Crime & Safety
Woman Dies in Old Seminole Heights House Fire
The body of Laura Grumney, 56, was discovered in the rear doorway of the house at 5609 N. Seminole Ave. on Saturday, after she apparently failed to heed warnings from a neighbor not to go back inside, officials said.
An Old Seminole Heights woman died in a house fire Saturday afternoon after apparently not heeding warnings not to go back inside, Tampa Fire Rescue reports.
The body of Laura Grumney, 56, was discovered in the rear doorway of the house at 5609 N. Seminole Ave., officials said.
Fire rescue units responded shortly after 3 p.m. to find "heavy smoke and fire coming from the rear of the house," Captain Lonnie Benniefield said in a news release. It took firefighters about 18 minutes to get the blaze under control. An estimated 22 responders were dispatched to the scene.
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According to witnesses, Grumney was initially outside of the house when the fire started. But Grumney went back into the house at least three times, officials said, despite the warnings of a neighbor, who does not want to be identified. Grumney was apparently overcome by smoke and flames.
The Arson Task Force concluded the fire was accidental, Benniefield said.
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No other injuries were reported.
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