Tampa Police and Tampa Fire Rescue investigators are searching for a fire bug who torched a vacant house last night. Firefighters responded to the home, located at 1604 Bird Street, around 11 o'clock last night. When the first crews arrives, the home was engulfed in flames. They were able to put out the flames before they spread to any nearby structures.
Gerald Gibson lives next door the house and believes he saw the arsonist. "He had to be an arsonist. To set the fire just for the hell of it," Gibson said. "He picked up the cans to make money off the cans, but he set the fire. I don't know why the hell he set the fire."
Gibson said he recognized the man as someone who collects cans in the neighborhood, and he's upset because he believes he could've caught him. "I'm mad because I could've close lined him. I could've caught him. He rode by me on a bicycle. I could've close lined him if I'd a had a shot," he said.
Investigators spent several hours at the scene gathering evidence and working to determine where the fire started, and if the arsonist used an accelerant. "Fire investigators are actually investigating that right now," said Tampa Fire Rescue spokeswoman Debra Sue Warshefski. "There are several officers over there right now going through all the debris to look for the area where it originated and to figure out how this individual did this at this time," she said.
The arsonist is described as a white man in his 40's or 50's with scraggly hair. He was last seen wearing shorts and a trench coat, leaving the area on a bicycle. Anyone with any information on this case is urged to call the Tampa Police Department.
Monday, May 20 2013 9:51 AM EDT2013-05-20 13:51:13 GMT
A bartender at a pub in Indian Rocks Beach got stabbed on Sunday evening after refusing to serve a customer who was already intoxicated, Pinellas County Sheriff's Office deputies told us.
A bartender at a pub in Indian Rocks Beach got stabbed on Sunday evening after refusing to serve a customer who was already intoxicated, Pinellas County Sheriff's Office deputies told us.
Monday, May 20 2013 5:44 AM EDT2013-05-20 09:44:01 GMT
Zack Walker is an 8th grader at Lakeland Montessori He's among the students who plant, tend and watch closely over a small garden outside the Red Door Wine Market in Lakeland.
Zack Walker is an 8th grader at Lakeland Montessori He's among the students who plant, tend and watch closely over a small garden outside the Red Door Wine Market in Lakeland.
Monday, May 20 2013 5:25 AM EDT2013-05-20 09:25:28 GMT
Before students at Sexton Elementary can get their groove on to Beyonce songs during gym class, they stop by the Nurse's Office to test their lung capacity.
Before students at Sexton Elementary can get their groove on to Beyonce songs during gym class, they stop by the Nurse's Office to test their lung capacity.
Sunday, May 19 2013 9:26 PM EDT2013-05-20 01:26:21 GMT
It's all about the odds, and one single ticket in Zephyrhills, Florida has beaten them all by matching all the numbers to win the highest Powerball jackpot in history at an estimated $590.5 million.
It's all about the odds, and one single ticket in Zephyrhills, Florida has beaten them all by matching all the numbers to win the highest Powerball jackpot in history at an estimated $590.5 million.
Sunday, May 19 2013 5:19 PM EDT2013-05-19 21:19:43 GMT
Hank Earl Carr
15 years ago the lives of Tampa Police detectives Randy Bell and Rick Childers, Florida Highway trooper James Crooks and 4-year-old Joey Bennett were cut short.
15 years ago the lives of Tampa Police detectives Randy Bell and Rick Childers, Florida Highway trooper James Crooks and 4-year-old Joey Bennett were cut short.
Friday, May 17 2013 4:58 PM EDT2013-05-17 20:58:08 GMT
The 'Great May Giveaway' is underway. Now through May 24, you have a chance to win tablets, tickets and more! All this week we're giving away an Apple iPad mini , every weekday morning.
The 'Great May Giveaway' is underway. Now through May 24, you have a chance to win tablets, tickets and more! All this week we're giving away an Apple iPad mini , every weekday morning.
Sunday, May 19 2013 9:26 PM EDT2013-05-20 01:26:21 GMT
It's all about the odds, and one single ticket in Zephyrhills, Florida has beaten them all by matching all the numbers to win the highest Powerball jackpot in history at an estimated $590.5 million.
It's all about the odds, and one single ticket in Zephyrhills, Florida has beaten them all by matching all the numbers to win the highest Powerball jackpot in history at an estimated $590.5 million.
Monday, May 20 2013 9:51 AM EDT2013-05-20 13:51:13 GMT
A bartender at a pub in Indian Rocks Beach got stabbed on Sunday evening after refusing to serve a customer who was already intoxicated, Pinellas County Sheriff's Office deputies told us.
A bartender at a pub in Indian Rocks Beach got stabbed on Sunday evening after refusing to serve a customer who was already intoxicated, Pinellas County Sheriff's Office deputies told us.
Monday, May 20 2013 5:44 AM EDT2013-05-20 09:44:01 GMT
Zack Walker is an 8th grader at Lakeland Montessori He's among the students who plant, tend and watch closely over a small garden outside the Red Door Wine Market in Lakeland.
Zack Walker is an 8th grader at Lakeland Montessori He's among the students who plant, tend and watch closely over a small garden outside the Red Door Wine Market in Lakeland.
Wednesday, May 1 2013 6:01 AM EDT2013-05-01 10:01:55 GMT
More and more people are using social media to vent their gripes about bad customer service. Twitter and Facebook are becoming popular forums for consumers who want their voices heard.
More and more people are using social media to vent their gripes about bad customer service. Twitter and Facebook are becoming popular forums for consumers who want their voices heard.