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Family Of Six Displaced After Wednesday Fire

MOBILE HOME BURNS ON S.R. 66

By Joe Seelig | Highlands Today

Published: July 31, 2008

SEBRING - A family of six was displaced Wednesday night when their double-wide mobile home at 5810 State Road 66, west of Payne Road, in Sebring, was destroyed by a fire.
The family left the house at about 4:30 p.m. to get some food, said Art Harriman, service director for the Highlands County American Red Cross.
The house belonged to Michael Layport, 46, and his wife Ellie, 47. Their two daughters Jessica, 22, and Leslie, 24, also lived there with granddaughters Trista, 4, and Lannie, 2.
"They came back at about 6 p.m. and saw smoke coming out of the house," Harriman said.
The DeSoto City and Leisure Lakes volunteer fire departments were dispatched at about 6:43 p.m., according to a firefighter at the DeSoto City fire station.
Glades Electric was also called to cut the power to the home.
The American Red Cross was contacted at 10:15 p.m. Wednesday, Harriman said.
"It was pretty much gutted," Harriman said, adding it was a grease fire. "Apparently, they didn't turn everything off."
The family did have insurance, and was looking into staying with some relatives. It was not known if there were any pets in the home.
"We put them into a hotel through the weekend," Harriman said.
They were given debit cards to help buy food and replace some clothing lost in the fire.
The State Fire Marshal's Office was notified.