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Highlands Today

House Fire Destroys Sebring Home

FAMILY OF 5 DISPLACED

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Special to Highlands Today

Published: December 26, 2008

SEBRING - American Red Cross volunteers helped a family of five who lost their home to fire on Christmas Eve, according to Phil Attinger with the American Red Cross Polk County chapter.

A Sebring couple and their three daughters were away from their home on Seventh Street, in east Sebring, on the Wednesday when their home caught fire.

"No one was hurt and no pets were injured in the fire," according to Attinger. "A neighbor was able to rescue the family's Christmas gifts from the flames."

The house reportedly was destroyed, according to Highlands Red Cross Director Art Harriman.

The fire started from an electrical short in a space heater that was not turned on, but was still plugged in.

Fortunately, the family has a place to stay the night, Harriman reported.

Local Red Cross volunteers provided the family with immediate emergency assistance for groceries and clothing, as well as comfort kits (personal hygiene kits) and teddy bears to comfort the children.

"Home fires are still the most common local disaster for Red Cross volunteers, and are expected to increase as weather turns colder and people begin using alternative forms of heat," Attinger wrote.

"The American Red Cross asks every family to use all precaution with space heaters, to check smoke detector batteries and include fire prevention as part of their disaster planning during this holiday season."

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