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News-Sun photo by KATARA SIMMONS The Highlands County Fire Service clear the scene Thursday after an early morning structure fire at Tubbs Ranch Road in Sebring.

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published: Thursday, April 23, 2009

Family escapes early morning fire

By SABRINA CARL

News Sun Intern

SEBRING -- A fire that broke out at 5:30 a.m. in a mobile home on Tubbs Ranch Road displaced a family of four.

The Lorida Volunteer Fire Department was the first to be called out on the scene followed by Highlands County Fire Services and Sebring Fire Department. The fire took hours to put out, and by 9:25 a.m. four fire trucks and an ambulance were clearing the scene.

The fire reportedly started in one of the children's bedrooms. Although the family was present at the time, there were no injuries.

"Everyone got out fine" said Swen Swenson of the Highlands County Fire Service and Lorida Volunteers.

There were two detectives with the Florida State Fire Marshal's Office investigating the cause of the fire.

Most of the family's clothing and personal belongings were recovered. The Highlands County Red Cross will still be providing the family with assistance such as odor removal concentrate to eliminate the odor of smoke from their clothing and a temporary motel stay.

"We've given them comfort kits which is toiletries and things like that. We've given them temporary shelter and we've given them food allowance," said Viki Jaris of the Highlands County Red Cross.