Unattended Candle Reported Cause for House Fire

An unattended candle is the reported cause of a Feb. 5 house fire that caused about $15,000 in damages, according to a fire official’s report.

Ava R. Atkins, 38, reportedly awoke to the smell of smoke and left the house that fire units responded to at 4:53 p.m. at 610 North 32nd St. in Tampa.

At the scene, reported six minutes later, fire crews found smoke coming from the single-story home; it took about 15 minutes to get the fire under control and no injuries were reported.

An investigator with the Tampa Fire Marshal's Office determined that Alene D. Atkins, 41, had “left a candle burning in the back room when she left the house earlier in the day,” according to the report.

“Fortunately, fire crews got on scene quickly and limited the damages to one room of the house,” the report noted. “Losses were estimated to be about $15,000.”

The American Red Cross reportedly was on the scene to help arrange for temporary housing. It was not noted in the report if there is a family relationship between Adele Atkins and Ava Atkins.

Tampa Fire Rescue responded to the one-alarm fire with four fire engines, one ladder truck, two rescue cars and “a couple of chief officers.” About 26 responders arrived representing fire stations in Seminole Heights, Belmont Heights, Jackson Heights and North Tampa.