CLEARWATER, FL -- A massive blaze that destroyed an apartment building overnight was intentionally set, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.
A resident at one of the buildings at the Bay Meadows Apartments, 13795 Feather Sound Circle East, woke up to find smoke and flames in a stairwell around 2:30 Sunday morning. A resident tried to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher but couldn't, and called 911.
Firefighters arrived several minutes later and immediately called for additional units to fight the fire, which rose to 3 alarms.
It took over an hour and half before the fire was brought under control.
All 12 apartments inside the building were destroyed, and all but one were occupied when the fire started. About 20 people were evacuated, all of them made it out without serious injury.
Arson detectives say the fire was intentionally set on the outside of the 25-year-old building.
Most of the displaced families are staying with friends or family tonight, while 3 of them will stay in a hotel room provided by the Red Cross. All of the victims received food, clothing and vouchers.
The apartment manager told the Red Cross he will relocate the victims to other apartments within the complex.
About 60 firefighters from the Pinellas Park Fire Department, Clearwater Fire & Rescue, Largo Fire Department, Lealman Fire Department and St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue all helped put out the blaze.
