Crime & Safety

Tampa Fire Rescue Crews Respond to Three Kitchen Fires

Firefighters investigate a "trifecta of kitchen fires," said Capt. Bill Wade.

Tampa Fire Rescue crews responded to three kitchen fires Monday afternoon, according to a news release written by Capt. Bill Wade.

At 2:46 p.m., firefighters were called to a fire in the Brookside Apartments, 8414 Cerro Circle.  Once on scene, crews discovered a grease fire in the kitchen had been extinguished prior to their arrival.

The tenant, 21-year-old Maurice Williams, told investigators he was heating the grease on the stove.  He went to check his mail at the mailbox in the apartment complex, and when he returned a few minutes later the grease was on fire.  An unidentified person used an extinguisher to knock down the flames prior to fire crews arriving.  The apartment suffered some smoke damage and the kitchen
had limited fire damage. The total losses were estimated to be about $5,000, Wade said. Williams is being assisted with temporary living arrangements by the American Red Cross.

Find out what's happening in Seminole Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

About three hours later, crews responded to a reported house fire at 4604 N. 35th St. The fire was under control in about 10 minutes after firefighters arrived, and no injuries were reported.  

No one was home when the fire started.  The tenant, Jerrolyn Dewberry, 35, told investigators that her 15-year-old son placed some potpourri in a pot of water on the stovetop.  He left the house and forgot to turn off the heat under then pan.  About 30 minutes later,
neighbors called 911 to report smoke coming from the house.  

Find out what's happening in Seminole Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Most of the fire damage was limited to the kitchen and there was some smoke damage throughout
the rest of the house.  Losses are estimated to be about $15,000. The American Red Cross is helping the family of two adults and two children with temporary shelter.

Finally, at about 6:23 p.m., the same crews that responded to the Cerro Circle fire were called to a house fire at 9319 N. Highland Ave.  The fire was under control within 10 minutes. 

Sharon Touchton, 65, who told investigators she has lived in the house at least 18 years, had a pot of grease sitting on the stovetop.  She thought she turned on the burner under a different pot but instead she turned on the burner under the grease and was applying heat to the grease.  

When the pot of grease burst into flames Touchton tried to carry it outside.  The fire was too big and hot; she dropped the pan and got outside.  While carrying the burning pan she suffered some minor burns.  She was treated on scene by fire rescue paramedics but she did not want to go to the  hospital.  

 The kitchen was heavily damaged by fire but most of the rest of the home only had some smoke damage.  Losses are estimated to be about $20,000. Touchton will be staying with relatives.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Seminole Heights