Fourteen people living in the Riverside Apartments are without a place to stay after a fire causes smoke damage to their apartments.
Tampa Fire Rescue tells Newsradio 970 WFLA, when firefighters arrived, just before 7 last night at the complex at 5005 Castile Place, they could see heavy smoke coming from one of the two story, four unit apartments, but no flames.
Firefighters discovered that the fire had spread in the wall between two of the apartments and quickly brought got the fire under control.
According to the property manager, workers were performing welding work in one of the vacant units.
Fire Investigators are determining whether a stray ember from the welding caused the fire after the workers left.
The neighbor in the apartment next door saw the smoke and called 911. Four units sustained smoke damage.
No one was injured, including Firefighters , residents or pets.
The Red Cross is offering assistance to the residents who were displaced.
Tampa Fire Rescue Public Information Officer Jason Penny reminds everyone during National Fire Prevention Week the importance of having working smoke detectors in the home.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends a smoke detector in each bedroom, outside of each common sleeping area and on each level of the home.
Tampa residents who need a smoke detector can contact the Tampa Fire Marshal's office at 274-7000 to have someone come to their home and install them.
They will also receive a safety assessment and fire escape plan. "hear the beep where you sleep!"