VIDEO: The Kissimmee Police Department and the State Fire Marshal's Office are investigating after a body was found at a home where a fire was reported early Friday afternoon.
Firefighters from the Kissimmee Fire Department and Osceola County Fire Rescue responded to a call reporting the fire at 2361 Lilly Pad Ln. around 12:30 p.m. on Friday. "This is an active scene, and it's still being investigated and once we have more information we will be providing it to you," said Melissa Zayas-Moreno with the Kissimmee Police Department.
No other details were immediately made available by authorities.
WOFL-TV FOX 35 Orlando
|
VIDEO: Apopka firefighters found a special way to support one of their own who is fighting in the ICU after a serious injury.
Apopka Firefighter Austin Duran was seriously injured on the job Thursday when a 4,500 lbs sand trailer fell on him. His firefighter family came up with a way to show their support for him by creating a workout dedicated to him that they call do together in his honor. "Austin is a strong individual. His endurance and his passion for the job is impressive, and we want him to know that’s still burning in us. And we want to show that we’re here and standing with him," said Firefighter Jeremias Williams.
They hope that the support helps Duran and his family during this difficult time. "I hope he feels that we’re here for him, and we’re rooting for him, coming together all for him, and hopefully feed off the energy we’re trying to give him," said Firefighter Taylor Legvold.
WOFL-TV FOX 35 Orlando
|
VIDEO: Just before 10 a.m. Saturday, a white Honda sedan pulled into a parking spot at the suspect pulls into a parking spot outside the Uhuru House Black community center in St. Petersburg. The driver stayed in the car for about five minutes before popping the trunk and retrieving something from inside.
Surveillance cameras at the Uhuru House recorded as the person walked across the parking area, carrying the roughly 4-foot long object. Then they hold it up and a massive stream of fire shoots from the end. It was a flamethrower and the suspect was apparently there to torch the red, black, and green flag raised in front of the center. The arsonist sprays the nearly 8-foot flame, on and off for about 30 seconds, before pacing back to the car, putting the flamethrower into the truck, and driving off.
WTVT-TV FOX 13 Tampa
|
A Jacksonville firefighter battling for PTSD benefits is getting support from a state leader.
“Sometimes we need to show them that we’ve got their back,” said Jimmy Patronis, who is Florida’s chief financial officer and state fire marshal. “[First responders] have our backs technically 24/7, 365 days a year every time we dial 911.”
Patronis filed an “Amicus Curiae Brief” on July 30. It is also known as a “friend of the court brief” that voices his support for first responders getting benefits for any mental and nervous injuries.
JFRD firefighter Jerome Patterson is seeking medical benefits for mental or nervous injuries of PTSD.
He has already been denied twice.
“There is definitely a powerful psychological burden that comes from the trauma that these men and women experience,” Patronis said.
Randy Wyse, Jacksonville Association of Firefighters Union Chief, agrees.
WJXT-TV 4 Jacksonville
|
A lightning strike was determined to be the cause of a house fire Friday evening in Ruskin, according to officials with Hillsborough Fire Rescue.
Authorities said the fire broke out at a home on Dovesong Trace in Ruskin around 5:50 p.m. Fire crews initially reported that no smoke or flames were visible from the front of the home. However, it took firefighters less than one minute to determine the fire was in the attic, authorities said. Firefighters managed to extinguish the flames in the attic in approximately five minutes.
There were no reported injuries. An investigation determined the cause of the fire was a lightning strike.
WFLA-TV NBC 8 Tampa
|
Firefighters found a child and adult trapped inside their apartment in New Port Richey which was on fire at around 12:20 a.m. on Monday, the Pasco County Fire Rescue said in a news release.
Authorities reportedly saw heavy smoke and flames from the second floor of the apartment complex when they arrived at The Park at Ashley Place. A second alarm was called by command due to the size of the fire load and building. Firefighters were then alerted of the possibility of two people trapped inside an apartment, PCFR says.
Firefighters found the child and adult after they ran up the stairs into the apartment and pulled them both out of the fire to quickly begin lifesaving interventions, the news release said.
The child and adult were transported to a nearby hospital where they were later pronounced dead.
WTSP-TV CBS 10 St. Petersburg
|