By Alexandra Zayas and Justin George
St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
Copyright 2007 Times Publishing Company
All Rights Reserved
TAMPA, Fla. — Downtown Tampa’s north side lit up with flames eight stories high Monday night as firefighters battled blazes in two buildings a block apart, threatening a nearby residential condominium tower and motel.
The first, at Franklin and Harrison streets about 10:40 p.m., destroyed a vacant commercial building and sent tufts of ash raining all over downtown about 10:30 p.m. It was under control shortly after 11 p.m.
Then, with operations winding down and sighs of relief on newscasts, a three-story building at the southwest corner of Tyler and Franklin streets erupted into flame, burning bigger and brighter than the first.
Fifty firefighters responded to the first blaze with 10 engines and three ladder trucks. The second blaze drew every available unit in the city, with county firefighters on full alarm standby to help.
Authorities theorized that embers drifted from one building to the next.
Firefighters wet down some adjacent structures.
Tampa Fire Rescue Capt. Bill Wade likened the fires to the May 2000 Ybor City fire of a few years ago, in which flames jumped buildings, destroying a $33-million apartment complex and post office.
Firefighters squawked worries about water pressure.
Ronald Nesper said he saw the second building catch fire and told a police officer, who alerted firefighters.
Well after midnight, all over downtown, the worries continued, as firefighters stood vigil over an uneasy downtown.