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Fire Destroys Sebring Building Housing Truss Business

KATHY WATERS/Highland Today

Sebring Fire Department Lt. Mike Altman extinguishes hot spots Thursday morning from the overnight fire at Park Place Truss. The building, located at 454 Park St. in downtown Sebring, was a complete loss.

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By MANDY SHEETS | Highlands Today

Published: January 17, 2008

Updated: 01/17/2008 11:50 am

SEBRING — An overnight fire destroyed Park Place Truss, located at 454 Park St. in downtown Sebring.

The building, which is used to assemble trusses, was a complete loss. State fire marshals are investigating the cause of the fire, which firefighters responded to about 12:30 a.m. Thursday.

Four firefighters suffered minor injuries, but all have been treated and released. One firefighter with a knee injury was transported from the scene to the hospital by Emergency Medical Services. Two firefighters were treated at the scene for heat-related injuries and another firefighter was transported to the hospital after the fire.

Sebring Fire Chief Brad Batz said the fire, fueled by lumber in the building and the building's wooden frame, was extremely hot and took about four hours to get under control.

"The flames were so large, the firefighters could see the glow across town when they opened the bays at the station," Batz said. "Off-duty firefighters who responded could see the flames from across Lake Jackson. The whole downtown was aglow."

Three houses on Franklin Street were evacuated because of embers and flames. The houses and neighboring businesses had no damage.

West Sebring and Avon Park Fire Departments also responded to the fire. The fire was under control about 5 a.m. and firefighters remained on the scene until about 10 a.m. putting out hot spots.

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