Acting on a tip, Kissimmee fire officials today determined that two residents trying to exterminate bees sparked a fire that left 30 people homeless and destroyed a building.
Two residents doused a beehive with flammable spray as it hung from a second-floor landing at Villa del Sol condominiums, firefighters said. They then lit a match and touched it to the hive, causing flames to erupt.
The residents sprayed the hive with a fire extinguisher, left and didn't realize that fire was still burning, a fire department spokeswoman said.
The flames broke out Sunday just before 9 p.m. at the complex at 2250 N. Hoagland Blvd. and gutted a three-story block of 22 apartments. It took more than 50 firefighters to extinguish the blaze. The 392-unit complex was built a decade ago as Tropical Isle apartments.
Two firefighters were injured when they were pinned to a third-floor landing and the roof collapsed. They were going door to door trying to evacuate the building.
No one has been charged, but the State Fire Marshal's office is continuing to investigate.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
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