Fire Destroys Winter Haven Home

WINTER HAVEN | Winter Haven firefighters are investigating a "suspicious" fire that destroyed a home at 1901 Lake Howard Drive N.W. Thursday night.

This is the second time firefighters were called to the same address, Deputy Chief Jim Davis said. The first call was about two weeks ago, Davis said, and at that time the carport was damaged.

Thursday night, when firefighters made the turn from Avenue D Northwest onto Lake Howard Drive about 10 p.m., thick black smoke could be seen, tipping them that this was a much more severe fire.

The home, which is located near 17 Street Northwest, just west of the Lake Howard-Cannon canal, is not inhabited and no one was injured in the blaze, Davis said.

Firefighters are still on the scene, mopping up hot spots and investigating the cause.

The home had undergone several renovations and this created havoc for firefighters. Davis said tar on the roof, which originally was a flat roof, was particularly troublesome.

"It was a rough one," Davis said.

Davis did not have the name of the property owner, but the Polk County Property Appraiser's Office lists it as Annette F. Whitney.

Firefighters from the Polk County Fire Department assisted.

More information will be posted as it is received.