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One Found Dead After Wimauma Fire

Fire | Firefighters | Fire Rescue

He died in the fire, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said.

WIMAUMA – The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a person was found dead after a fire in Wimauma, according to Hillsborough County Fire Rescue.

Donald Wright, 87, of Wimauma, died in the fire. Hillsborough deputies said foul play is not suspected. Three other adults who lived on the property were able to escape unharmed.

Hillsborough Fire Rescue was called to structure fire on Bonita Drive in Wimauma about 7:47 p.m. Thursday (March 15). When firefighters arrived, they found multiple small structures and an RV on fire. The fire quickly spread to the brush and nearby trees.

Firefighters called both a second and third alarm – a total of 33 fire rescue vehicles, sheriff’s deputies, the sheriff’s aviation unit, two water tankers from Manatee County, and units from the Florida Forest Service came to help fight the blaze.

Because the fire was in a rural area that is without county water or hydrants, crews set up a water shuttle operation to ensure firefighters had adequate water throughout the incident. Florida
Forest Service used a plow to cut a line through the thick brush to help create a fire stop.

Three adults were on scene that resided on the property and safely escaped the fire, but Mr. Wright was unaccounted for.  The sheriff’s aviation unit flew over the scene to search for him. When he was found, Mr. Wright had already died.

Tampa Bay Reporter file photo.

Hillsborough Fire Rescue | Hillsborough Sheriff | Fire | Wimauma Fire | Donald Wright | Firefighters | Tampabay News

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