Power Strip Caused Adams Middle School Blaze

Students hoping for an early summer vacation courtesy of a blaze at John Quincy Adams Middle School Wednesday morning were out of luck.

Tampa Fire Rescue was able to contain the blaze to the office area, sparing classrooms from damage. In light of the containment, the 10201 N. Boulevard school opened for business as usual as the final days of the 2014-15 school year come to a close.

The blaze is being blamed on a malfunctioning power strip inside a guidance office. That strip sparked a three-alarm fire that took more than 30 minutes to bring under control, according to Tampa Fire Rescue. Firefighters were called to the scene around 2:52 a.m. and found heavy smoke and flames coming from the building’s southwest corner, an email from Tampa Fire Rescue to media stated.

The flames were brought under control by about 3:30 a.m. with Hillsborough Schools officials announcing later in the morning that classes would go on as planned.

“The fire was contained within the guidance counselors’ offices,” the email stated. “No classrooms were affected.”

The Fire Marshal’s findings about the power strip were released Wednesday morning. No one was injured as a result of the blaze.

Photo courtesy of Tampa Fire Rescue

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