BY DAN HILDEBRAN
General manager
STARKE—Bradford County Fire Rescue said a fire at a former motel started in one converted apartment and spread Sunday afternoon, displacing 20 people.
The North Temple Avenue Studios are across the street from the Florida Department of Health’s Starke office and the Bradford County Senior Center.
The county said Starke Fire Rescue units were first on the scene, followed by county apparatus.
The State Fire Marshal is investigating the blaze, and the Red Cross is helping the victims with temporary housing.
Bradford County Fire Chief Ben Carter said the fire spread to multiple units quickly because the apartments share a common attic, and flames traveled along the top of the structure. He added that most of the impacted units suffered smoke damage.
Carter added that although he has not spoken with the State Fire Marshal about the cause of the blaze, he wouldn’t be surprised if the source was electrical.
“We saw a lot of extension cords that were being used for heating devices and that sort of thing,” he said.
