Fire Breaks Out Twice At Same Tampa Assisted Living Facility

TAMPA, FL ? Hillsborough County Fire Rescue responded to a report of a fire at Colonial Assisted Living Facility at 11722 N. 17th St. at 6:58 a.m. Tuesday.

The evacuation of residents began when the fire alarm was sounded.

The engine arrived to find smoke coming from the roof and called for a full-alarm response.

A small fire in the attic space above the kitchen appeared to be caused by an electrical problem and was quickly extinguished. The official cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Residents on the medical care level were relocated to alternate facilities with assistance from the Hillsborough County Office of Emergency Management and the State Emergency Response Team.

Public transit buses were used to hold the residents in a climate-controlled environment before taking them to alternate facilities.

Due to the location of the fire over the kitchen, Colonial ALF will be closed until code enforcement staff reviews the repairs and clears the facility to reopen.

Fire crews also responded to a fire at this facility late Saturday night. That fire originated in a resident's closet and appears accidental.

Fire rescue also received multiple fire alarm calls from Colonial Assisted Living Facility over the past two days while the restoration company was conducting operations. Firefighters responded at 2:39 a.m. Tuesday when there was a trouble alert on the alarm company panel, however, there was no fire. Staff was told to contact the alarm company to reset the panel.