Treasure Island Fire Rescue, in collaboration with other Pinellas County fire departments, battled a 3-alarm fire at 131 95th Avenue in Treasure Island. The incident began at around 3:27 p.m., on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, with crews discovering a fully engulfed two-story wood-framed house upon arrival. The fire’s intensity prompted an upgrade from a second-alarm to a 3-alarm response.
TIFR Chief Trip Barrs emphasized the priority of life safety and exposure protection due to the challenging circumstances of the narrow street, close quarters, and radiant heat. The fire’s location prevented direct truck placement, and live power lines further complicated accessing hydrants. Initial efforts involved using the fire engine’s 500-gallon tank water to knock back the flames before securing a reliable water supply for complete extinguishment.
Adjacent properties faced damage, with plastic melting on a nearby house and a subsequent fire starting at the neighboring residence. Despite this, the fire teams managed to prevent the fire’s spread to a three-story condo building situated directly behind the affected house. Thankfully, no injuries occurred during the incident.
An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.