Space heater may be cause of house fire that killed Tampa man, 54
Times staff
Published: October 30, 2017
TAMPA, FL — A home fire that may have been caused by a space heater claimed the life of a 54-year-old man Monday, Tampa Fire Rescue said.
Gregory Alden Elledge was pulled out of the burning building but died at Tampa General Hospital of his injuries, officials said.
The one-story wooden home caught fire sometime around 7:45 a.m. Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames by 8 a.m.
Investigators said the fire started in the living room and was likely caused by a space heater. The home had no working smoke detector, investigators said.
The fire caused heavy damage to the home, according to the fire department. The home and its contents were valued at about $90,000.
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TAMPA (FOX 13) - A Tampa man is dead after a house fire, and investigators say it was sparked by a space heater.
It happened just before 8 a.m. on North 23rd Street. When firefighters got to the scene, they saw smoke and flames shooting from the roof.
They were able to bring the fire under control in just a matter of minutes, but when crews went inside, they found Gregory Alden Elledge unconscious. The 54-year-old later died at the hospital.
Crews say the fire started in his living room due to a space heater that was too close to combustible materials, and there were no working smoke alarms to warn him.
It's a sad reminder as we enter colder months. Crews say because of the changing weather, they receive more calls like this one.
"Heaters haven't been run in many months now,” TFR District Chief Mark Bogush offered. “It's always important homeowners have that checked out.”