Fire Department Suspects Arson on Joyce Avenue

The suspects arson in a Nov. 11 house fire that caused damage to the building.

The fire broke out at 404 Joyce Ave. just after midnight, according to a press released issued by Mike Dunn, public information officer for the City of Temple Terrace. Neighbors reported a fire at the residence.

The fire appeared suspicious, said Temple Terrace Fire Chief Keith Chapman, according to the release. No one has lived in the home for some time, and there was no electrical service to the building.

Nearly 20 firefighters responded to the blaze, which was extinguished in about 10 minutes, Chapman said in the release. Damage was estimated at $40,000.

Tampa Fire Rescue and Hillsborough County Fire Rescue assisted the Temple Terrace Fire Department, the release states.

It’s hard to say how many arson cases Temple Terrace has each year, said Andy Muzzy, Temple Terrace Fire Department division chief. The last known arson happened at about a year and a half ago and was caused by a student, he said. Before that, there was arson at in the spring of 2009, but there were no arrests.

The state Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the Joyce Avenue fire.

Anyone who has information about this fire and wishes to report it can call 813-989-7110. There is a reward of up to $5,000 for a tip that leads to an arrest.