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Fast-moving blaze destroys home

A Hillsborough County woman was getting a new roof Sunday, but now she's going to need a new home. No one was hurt.

By SHERRI DAY
Published April 4, 2005

TAMPA - Geraldine Daniel, 66, left her Town 'N Country home in the hands of roofers and relatives Sunday morning.

Sunday evening she returned to a house destroyed by fire.

No one died. No one was injured. But Daniel and her family lost nearly everything when fire swept through their home, apparently ignited by the roofing company's tar kettle, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue officials said.

Officials said roofing contractors were working on Daniel's roof at 10726 Dalton Ave. about 4:30 p.m. when one of the workers spotted lots of smoke coming from the tar kettle. The kettle had been sitting beside Daniel's home, Fire Rescue spokesman Ray Yeakley said.

Fire broke out and quickly spread from the tar kettle to the roof, igniting several gas cylinders that were used to fuel the kettle, Yeakley said. Daniel's neighbors called 911, reporting a fire and several explosions. The workers alerted three people inside the home. They also tried to move gas tanks that were in danger of exploding, neighbors said.

Firefighters had the blaze under control within 30 minutes, Yeakley said. But the fast-moving fire disintegrated half of the roof, sending a plume of thick black smoke and orange flames into the air.

The Hillsborough County fire investigator ruled the blaze an accident and estimated damages at $375,000, Yeakley said.

Daniel was happy to have her life.

"My family is fine," said Daniel, who works at the MacDill Air Force Base commissary. "Things can always be replaced."

When Daniel's husband died two years ago, her daughter, son-in-law and the couple's four children left Kentucky and moved in. Daniel also recently took in her 88-year-old uncle, who uses a wheelchair and a feeding tube.

After the fire, the family was unable to reach Daniel. She had gone to Bradenton to spend the day with her brother. Her cell phone was in the charred house.

When she finally came home at 7:45 p.m., her daughter greeted her at the street corner. Daniel, whose house sits near a cul-de-sac, began sprinting down the block. She tried to get to her house, but firefighters blocked her. They brought her bottled water and explained that the damage had ruined nearly everything inside. Her grandkids' computers. Her microwave. Personal items.

But there were small miracles. Though still parked in her driveway, Daniel's car was seemingly unharmed. Firefighters were able to retrieve an extra set of keys from her bedroom.

The family would need a place to sleep. Neighbors quickly stepped forward to offer spare rooms.

The roofing company, Home Improvement Services of Clearwater, was closed yesterday. Its voice mail box was full.

"They're going to replace what I have in my home," Daniel said.

One of Daniel's neighbors had a better idea.

"This is an ABC Extreme Makeover in the making," said Heidi Smith. "I'm calling ABC."

--Sherri Day can be reached at 813 226-3405 or sday@sptimes.com

[Last modified April 4, 2005, 01:26:10]