Update: Accident Likely Cause of Islamic Society of Tampa Bay Fire

A Monday afternoon fire in the Islamic Society of Tampa Bay’s preschool building was likely an accident, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue officials say.

The blaze at 7326 E. Sligh Ave. broke out in a building on the campus that was being used by preschool-age children and their teachers, fire rescue’s Ronnie Rivera wrote in an email to media. When crews arrived, they found heavy smoke and flames coming from the building, but noted that all occupants were able to evacuate safely.

“Firefighters quickly started to battle the flames and a second alarm was called due to the size of
the building,” Rivera wrote. “Fire Rescue crews were able to extinguished the fire within 30 minutes.”

While an investigation into the cause continues, Rivera noted that the fire investigator said the blaze appeared to be accidental in nature.

The society is a nonprofit organization that “strives to serve the religious, educational, and social needs of the growing Muslim community of the Tampa Bay Area as well as to reach out to our non-Muslim neighbors in order to teach them about our faith and way of life,” according to its website.

Stay with Patch for updates as they become available.

Image via Shutterstock

Editor’s note: This story was updated April 27 at 6:47 p.m. with more details from Hillsborough County Fire Rescue.

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