Fire Damages Sebring Parkway Home

The state Fire Marshal's Office on Monday blamed the explosive mixture of four bug bombs and a gas pilot light on a hot water heater for an accidental fire that broke out Friday at a Sebring Parkway home.

The family didn't shut off the gas pilot light before setting off the four bug bombs in the same room, before going out to the store, said Scott Mann, fire chief with the West Sebring Volunteer Fire Department.

The flammable gas in the bug bombs touched the open flame and flashed.

Firefighters were dispatched at about 3:49 p.m. Friday to 3600 Sebring Parkway. They arrived on scene at 3:55 p.m. Mann said, which is a pretty good response time considering many came from their jobs and had to pick up the equipment first.

When firefighters arrived there was smoke coming out of the eaves and fire was visible through the living room windows, Mann said.

In all about 20 firefighters from West Sebring and Sun 'n Lake of Sebring volunteer fire departments combined their efforts to put out the fire, which began in the kitchen and spread to the living room.

Firefighters dragged a burning sectional sofa and big screen television outside. Gas and power had to be shut off to the home.

Heavy smoke and flames caused $15,000 damage to the concrete block home, according to Lt. Sam Venzeio, public information officer with the state Fire Marshal's Office. Contents in two rooms were damaged including appliances and furniture.

The home belongs to Telsforo and Hilda Oregon, who lived there with their four children, ages 20, 19, 17 and 11, according to Art Harriman, service director with the Highlands County American Red Cross.

Volunteers helped the family with temporary shelter, emergency assistance for groceries, clothing, shoes and personal hygiene kits and referrals to the Salvation Army and Samaritan's Touch.

The American Red Cross also helped another family and their visiting relatives after lightning cut off power to their home on Saturday night.