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Crime & Safety

Lightning Suspected in Brandon Apartment Fire: VIDEOS

Residents at the Charleston Landings Apartments react to the fire that left 14 people displaced, according to an American Red Cross worker.

Residents spared their lives are counting their blessings this morning after a pre-dawn fire gutted their homes in a Brandon apartment building at Charleston Landings, in the area of Causeway Boulevard and Providence Road.

Lightning is the suspected cause in the 3-alarm fire that left no one injured but 14 people displaced, according to reports by Hillsborough County Fire Rescue and the American Red Cross.

Ashlee Nelson was staying in one of the apartments with her friend, Arthur Freemon, when she was awakened by the sounds of a violent thunderstorm.

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“I woke up at about 4:30 a.m. by the thunder,” Nelson said. “I looked out the window a little later and saw an orange glow outside and knew it was a fire.”

Minutes later, a neighbor was at the door warning of a fire in the complex and telling everyone to get out, Nelson said.

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“I feel very lucky this morning that we got out in time.”

The Red Cross was on the scene early, serving food and helping the victims of the fire.     

“The apartment complex owners are putting the people who lost their apartments up in a hotel for a couple of days and we are just making sure they all have some of the basics this morning like food and clothes,” said Red Cross spokesperson Brittany Meynardie.

“The victims have all been helping each other out and supporting each other,” she added.

Meynardie said 14 people from 12 apartments had been displaced. 

According to the Hillsborough Fire Rescue report sent at 7:13 a.m., the second alarm was issued as firefighters were en route to the fire at 936 Delaney Circle. A third alarm was issued after firefighters reported “heavy involvement in the attic space and roof assembly.”

The fire was reported under control in about 35 minutes with "18 fire apparatus and approximately 55 Fire Rescue personnel responding.” At least eight housing units had sustained fire damage with as many as eight additional units suffering some smoke and/or water damage, according to the report.

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