Resident Displaced After Apartment Fire

A man who had been cooking on his stove decided to lie down and fell asleep.

He awoke to his neighbor pounding on his door, and heavy smoke coming from his apartment.

Tampa Fire Rescue crews responded to a report of a structure fire on Linebaugh Avenue near Busch Gardens just before 11 a.m. Friday, according to a media release.

The first arriving captain reported heavy smoke coming from the first story of an apartment building at 4123 Linebaugh Ave., the release states.

“Tampa Fire Rescue crews quickly contained and extinguished the fire in the (apartment), which was started due to a pot on the stove,” according to the release. “Primary and secondary searches were completed with no victims. There were no reported injuries.”

The approximate damage was valued at $60,000, the release states.

Fire officials said there was no working smoke detector in the residence. Tampa Fire Rescue crews canvassed the neighborhood and handed out smoke detectors to residents who didn’t have them.

The displaced man will be staying with family, who will work with the American Red Cross for help, the release states.