A fire on the roof of the prominent pink high-rise in downtown Tampa that houses Hillsborough County government offices was put out by Tampa firefighters just after regular business hours Tuesday.
The cause of the small fire atop the Frederick B. Karl County Center at 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. across from the Hillsborough courthouses is unknown and under investigation by Tampa fire officials, said Hilary Zalla, a county spokesperson.
The fire, which occurred at about 6 p.m. when few employees were still in the building, caused smoke to pour into the 27th and 28th floors, Zalla said. Fire alarms went off, causing the elevators to stop working, so those still in the building had to take the stairs to leave.
Firefighters “went to the roof and were able to put it out very fast,” Zalla said. No injuries were reported.
Tampa Fire reported Wednesday there has been “construction activity” on the roof.
The County Center is named for former Florida Supreme Court justice, state legislator and Hillsborough County Administrator Fred Karl. The building also houses the Supervisor of Elections and Tax Collector’s offices, among others. The floors affected by the fire housed the County Attorney’s Office as well as the county’s technology department.
The two floors affected by the fire will remain closed until sometime next week while smoke odors are removed. Employees from those floors will work remotely or in other County Center offices.
“Impacts were minor,” Zalla said.
Amanda Smith is a dedicated U.S. correspondent with a passion for uncovering the stories that shape the nation. With a background in political science, she provides in-depth analysis and insightful commentary on domestic affairs, ensuring readers are well-informed about the latest developments across the United States.
