2 burned in fire at Tavares manufacturing business

TAVARES, Fla. — Two people were hospitalized Saturday afternoon after escaping a burning building in Tavares, the Tavares Fire Department said.

Flames ignited shortly before 2:30 p.m. at FirePoint Products on North Duncan Drive near North Lake Avenue, Chief Richard Keith said.

The people, who weren’t publicly identified, were trapped in the building, but they managed to free themselves, Keith said.

"It burned hot,” Keith said. “It's a metal building and there's a lot of damage there."

The people were flown to Shands Hospital, where they were treated for burns. Their conditions weren’t known.

“There were no flames showing until the Fire Department arrived,” said Michael Jimenez, a passerby who called 911. “And then it was going through the roof about maybe 20 feet high."

The business manufactures products for the fire industry and controlled burns.

There were no known previous fires at the business in the past, Keith said.

The state fire marshal’s office is investigating what sparked the blaze.

Cox Media Group