Crime & Safety

Smoke Alarm Alerts Sleeping Residents, Fire Damages Contained

Lucky for two sleeping Progress Village residents they had a working smoke alarm. A fire sent one resident to the hospital but injuries and fire damages could have been a lot more severe without an alarm.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue reported today, Aug. 25, on a house fire in Progress Village that could have been a lot worse had it not been for a functioning smoke alarm.

"This incident is a perfect example of having smoke alarms protecting your home," said Ronnie Rivera, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue spokesperson, in a news report. "Most of residential fire deaths occur when people are sleeping and a smoke alarm [is] not present or not working. In this case the residents were sleeping when the fire started in the kitchen and the sound of the alarm woke them up. This resulted in no loss of life or further damage to the residence."

The fire at 4919 South 84th St. in Progress Village was reportedly contained within 10 minutes after firefighters arrived on the scene. The two people who had been sleeping inside had left the home to call 911.

Upon arrival some six minutes later, firefighters "quickly entered the structure with their hose lines to find heavy black smoke and fire in the kitchen," according to Rivera's report.

One adult was transported to the hospital with "possible smoke inhalation."

"Severe fire damage" to the kitchen and "smoke damage" to the rest of the house was reported as well.

Seven units and more than 20 firefighters had responded to the scene. Also reported, that Hillsborough County Firefighter Charities had provided the displaced adults "with a care bag that contatined snacks and personal hygiene items." As for the displaced occupants, the report notes "they will be staying with family members while their home is being repaired.

Under its Smoke Alarms For Everyone (SAFE) program, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue will provide and install free of charge a smoke alarm, for residents who cannot otherwise afford one. Call: 813-272-6600.

As Rivera put it: "We are in the business of saving [lives] and this program is part of our mission."





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