Brandon apartment complex fire leaves 29 without housing

BRANDON — A fire broke out Wednesday at an apartment complex that let 29 people without a place to stay, according to Hillsborough Fire Rescue.

Firefighters were dispatched to Charleston Landings Apartments at 902 Delaney Circle about 12:30 p.m. The first firefighters on scene reported that a 2-story building was on fire and that the flames had spread to the large attic, according to Hillsborough Fire Rescue.

More fire units were sent to help because of the size of the building and the fire. The residents and their pets — dogs, cats, a snake and a bearded lizard, officials said — were evacuated.

Firefighters sent teams with hoses to put down the fire inside and outside the structure, while ladder trucks doused it from above.

The fire was brought under control about 45 minutes later. No residents or firefighters were injured, officials aid. A total of 30 firefighting units took part in the operation.

Eight units suffered some kind of damage from fire and smoke. A total of 16 apartments were affected. The Red Cross was brought in to help the 29 people who were displaced by the fire.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated.