Structure Fire, 1107 50th Avenue Plaza West

At 23:55 hrs, B-Shift responded to a structure fire at 1107 50th Avenue Plaza West. Upon arrival 3 minutes after dispatch, first due company and Battalion 2 found a single-wide mobile home 50% involved with flame impingement to the exposure (mobile home) directly west (1109). The fire was under control in approximately 15 minutes. Both mobile homes were deemed a complete loss by Manatee County Building Inspector. 1109 was a vacant mobile home and 1107 was unoccupied at the time of the fire, however the occupant arrived on the scene and received assistance from the Red Cross. Crews remained on scene for several hours to assist with complete extinguishment and overhaul of the fire. Cedar Hammock responded with a total of 4 fire engines and a Battalion Chief with a total of 15 Fire Department personnel. The fire was investigated by Cedar Hammock Fire Investigators, Deputy Fire Marshal Lathrop from WMFR assisted with the use of his arson canine dog, and the State Fire Marshal's office was also called in due to the suspicious nature of the fire. The fire was labeled incendiary by investigators. Total loss to both structures was $10,000 and $1,000 of contents of the occupied mobile home.

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