Home Set on Fire, Again

Multiple units from Tampa Fire Rescue responded to an overnight fire at 1412 E. 21st Ave. in V.M. Ybor, Captain Lonnie Benniefield said in a news release.

The fire was reported at 12:02 a.m. Monday, and crews were on scene within five minutes. It took firefighters almost 40 minutes to get the fire under control, Benniefield said. No injuries were reported.

Monday's fire originated in the shed and spread to the home, Tampa Police spokeswoman Andrea Davis said. Both were vacant.

Tampa Fire Marshal Investigator Mike Zurla determined the cause was arson, Benniefield said.

Monday's fire was at least the second time investigators have determined this home has been set on fire by an arsonist.

However, investigators do not think this fire is associated with any other fires or that there are any new arson patterns in the V.M. Ybor area, Davis said.

According to a TBO.com article by reporter Josh Poltilove, documents detailing the city's investigation into the Ybor area arsons indicated this was at least the sixth fire at the 21st Avenue home since November 2009.

In July 2010, a self-employed mechanic, Kenneth B. Smith, 44, was charged with setting a fire at the house on Jan. 29, 2010. He lived next door at the time.

Smith was extradited from Chicago, where he was arrested, and awaits trial in a Hillsborough County jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.