TAMPA, Fla. — Investigators were still working to confirm the identities of a mother and two children killed in an apartment fire Wednesday in Hillsborough County.
The fire broke out at the Captiva Club Apartments in the 4500 block of Castaway Drive.
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue officials say there were still-unconfirmed reports of people jumping from second-story windows and balconies.
Safety officials say they don’t want anybody doing that, and there are steps each of us can and should take -- no matter what type of place you live in -- to minimize the risks of that becoming necessary.
“Early warning is the key,” said Tampa Fire Marshal John Reed.
Reed says no matter what type of place you live in, working smoke alarms and an escape plan can help you get out safely and often faster, before a fire has time to grow.
“Always have two ways out,” said Reed. “Or identify two ways out of each room of your home.”
If a fire has already spread, and the door is no longer an escape option, Reed says get to a window or balcony.
In a place with one or two stories, they would still prefer people not to jump.
Considering instead, he says, purchasing an emergency rope ladder that hooks to the window ledge.
“You also want to make sure that you understand it, and know how to use it, and that you’re not taking it out for the first time when there actually is an emergency,” said Reed.
As Tampa Bay Housing goes vertical, and apartment buildings get taller, most properties with three stories or more should have sprinklers. In those mid-rise apartments, Reed still says try to get an opening. Fire ladders can reach up to 100 feet.
“Go to a window. Wave something bright colored in the air so we can see it and we know to come to that point to make a rescue,” Reed explained.
In a high-rise building, Reed recommends sheltering in place if the fire is not in your apartment or getting to a stairwell. In most modern buildings, stairwells have built in communication systems, and they’re ventilated.
“So, they have very large fans that create positive pressure within the stairwell that keeps the smoke from entering into the stairwell when there’s fire on the other side,” Reed said.
Another important tool is a working fire extinguisher.
Some fires can be controlled before they spread, said Reed. But he reminds anyone who tries to do so with a fire extinguisher to keep yourself between that fire and the door so that if you’re not successful at putting it out, you can still get out.
There is now some fencing surrounding the site of Wednesday’s fatal fire.
Those who survived have been moved out of the building, where the worst damage appeared to be in a second-story balcony area.
This was the third fire in 3 ½ years at the same apartment complex.
10News has obtained records from the previous two fires.
A fire in 2015, which destroyed about a dozen units, also appeared to have started on a balcony. In that case, there was some uncertainty as to the cause. Fire investigators were trying to confirm whether any improperly disposed of smoking materials might have ignited that fire. But they were not able to confirm that theory, and so the cause of that fire was officially listed as “undetermined”.
In 2018, another fire appeared to start on a second-floor balcony. Again, fire officials said the damage was so extensive that they were not able to reach any conclusions about what had started it.
Now, officials are investigating the third fire.
Wednesday's blaze, again, appeared to have originated on a second-floor balcony.
While this latest fire remains under investigation, the absence of any definitive reason for the previous two fires has some residents nervous.
“We won’t be able to stay here, especially not with any comfort of mind you know?” said resident Jesse Tuchyner, who was displaced by Wednesday’s fire. “You want to be able to know you’re safe where you are when you’re sleeping. You know? You don’t want to have to worry about waking up at three in the morning to grab all of your belongings.”
Hillsborough Fire Rescue and the sheriff’s office are both fairly certain of the identities of the mother and children killed Wednesday. But, they are going to need to check dental records to confirm that, they say.
If such records are not available, they could possibly match DNA. Until then, they have opted not to officially release the victims’ names.
Nearly 20 people were displaced by the fire. Several say the apartment complex management team has been very helpful now. They’ve received money for hotels, U-Haul trucks so they can collect and move their belongings, and in some cases, residents are being offered available units inside the same complex.
What other people are reading right now:
- Florida woman smiling in mugshot sentenced in deadly DUI crash
- Video shows woman try to kidnap toddler from McDonald's, police say
- He was murdered and his wife shot. The killers were just convicted in his death.
- He was targeted for human trafficking through his mom. Now, he shares his story to help others.
- Gov. Ron DeSantis has tense exchange with school board member during first lady's visit
►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the 10News app now.
Have a news tip? Email desk@wtsp.com, or visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.