Man Started Fire While Girlfriend, Uncle Slept, Investigators Say

A 31-year-old Tampa man is in custody after fire investigators say he caused an early Monday morning blaze that ripped through an apartment complex building.

Tampa Fire Rescue units were called out to the Ashford Apartments, 10610 N. 30th St., around 7:46 a.m. Monday, the agency wrote in an email to media. When units arrived they found smoke coming from a second-floor apartment in the multi-unit building.

“The first firefighters inside found smoke and flames coming from a walk-in closet inside the apartment,” the email stated. “The firefighters doused the flames and put the fire out.”

While everyone had safely evacuated the building and no injuries were reported, fire rescue officials say three apartments were affected and a total of six people, including a child, have been displaced.

Tampa Fire Marshal investigators say the blaze was no accident.

Lester George Jr. “admitted in a video recorded interview to setting clothes within a closet on fire,” the email stated. Authorities also discovered that George’s girlfriend and blind uncle were asleep when the blaze was started.

George now faces first-degree arson, culpable negligence and abuse of a disabled adult charges, according to the fire marshal’s office.

The Red Cross has been called in to assist those who have been displaced by the fire.

Photo courtesy of Tampa Fire Rescue

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