By Luis Perez, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
ST. PETERSBURG — A family of five was homeless Tuesday night after a two-alarm fire badly damaged their apartment.
The fire at broke out at about 7 p.m. in a ground-floor unit of the Sabal Pointe Apartments, 5530 21st Way S, said St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Lt. Joel Granata. About 33 firefighters fought the blaze and brought it under control in about 25 minutes.
"It happened fast. We think we lost everything," said Fatima Phillips, who lives in the apartment with her husband and three children.
Phillips said there was another fire at her apartment a week ago, and that she believed Tuesday's blaze was electrical. Fire officials could not immediately say if the two fires were related or what caused Tuesday's blaze.
Another apartment was damaged, but no one else was displaced, fire officials said. No one ...