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Highlands Today

Downtown Fire Closes School, 2 Businesses

21 People Lose Their Homes

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By Gary Pinnell | Highlands Today

Published: November 30, 2007

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An early morning off-campus fire closed Sebring Middle School, damaged a plumbing business and beauty shop, and displaced 21 people.

Water was still pouring out of the three 1920s-era buildings at 341 Lemon Ave. at 9:30 a.m., and fire investigators were still trying to determine what caused the blaze.

Sebring, West Sebring and Lorida departments got the call about 2:20 a.m. Friday at Highlands Plumbing and Hair Reflections.

Phil Attinger, public relations director for the Polk and Highlands county chapters, said 12 American Red Cross volunteers were called to the scene to help second-story residents in five apartments, who may have lost everything.

"There were five kids. One family had 11 people," Attinger said. A temporary shelter was set up to provide emergency assistance for food and clothing, which included $10 grocery cards from Publix, donated by Florida's Blood Centers-Highlands.

The residents were given hygiene kits, Attinger said. "And we gave Mickey and Teddy bears to comfort the kids in situations like this."

At the request of Sebring Police and Sebring Fire departments, Sebring Middle School Principal Sandi Whidden closed the campus. Heavy smoke was pouring over what they knew would be a high-traffic area, so a reverse 911 call was made to all parents, telling them to keep their children home.

Carol Smith of the deputy superintendent's office said the school probably wasn't damaged by the smoke, and would reopen on Monday morning.

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