fires in downtown Tampa: intentional or natural

[JonathanBelles]

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/myfox/page ... geId=1.1.1


no injuries thus far. Ill update when more comes in.

[JonathanBelles]

3-alarm fire. Many buildings threatened including 2-3 condos. All condos are evacuated. I can see the smoke from here in St. Pete. The buiding of fire was vacant.

[JonathanBelles]

there is now a second fire across the street from the 1st one that is by far bigger than the first. there has been at least one explosion. still no injuries

[Tennesseestorm]

What on earth?!

Sounds scary. Hope everyone is safe down there. Keep us posted.

[JonathanBelles]

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/myfox/page ... geId=3.2.1

they got both buildings to storp burning, nobody injured that I am aware of, one builing was completly leveled, the other was gutted.

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

Yikes! Todays fire danger is supposed to be high due to low humidities

[JonathanBelles]

thats what I think started yesturdays fires

[JonathanBelles]

Update 6:10

Tampa police and Fire now say that they will demolish what is left of the 2 buildings before they begin an investigation. It is said that the owners of the 2 buildings were both planning to demolish their buildings w/in the year. I have personally came to 2 possibilities:
a) the men thought burning the buildings was easier to do than with regular demolision and hired somebody to intentionally set the fires. This will come out if it happened and there will be extreme penalties because Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio will be furious because "it could have burned down Tampa" (Tampa city FD)

b) It was natural- which I think is a possibility because humitidy is very low in the 20's and 30's.

[DaylilyDawn]

This just my opinion, but I think it may have been an accidental arson by a homelss person. News reports tonight have said that homeless people were using one of the buildings that burned for shelter.

[CajunMama]

I ditto what daylily said.