Tampa Arsonist hitting close to home

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interesting that I was researching these guys because they own a dump right next to the latest ybor arson and then lo and behold (18th avenue where jane claimed it was NOT near the ybor fires yet there it sits SMACK IN YBOR smacl in the block) so then george driver and jeffrey long who is alleged to work for FDLE get their house burnt .. only driver was inside. maybe it's over between them???
Neighbors lead man out of Tampa house fire, help rescue pets
By Danny Valentine, Times Staff Writer Posted: Aug 30, 2010 06:36 AM
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TAMPA — Paul Kerr was drinking his coffee about 3 a.m., getting ready for his early shift at Home Depot, when he heard a loud pop.
He looked outside to see flames shooting up from his neighbor's garage.
"I screamed, 'Call 911, call the fire department,' " Kerr recalled.
Kerr, 38, woke his stepson, Mathew Ausburn, 20, and ran to the front of the house at 5119 N River Blvd.
They yelled for their neighbor and banged on the front door. No one answered.
Ausburn said he and Kerr barged through the front door, where they were met with a billowing wall of smoke. They could only see about 6 inches in front of them.
They met George A. Driver in the hallway. He had been sleeping and was confused, Ausburn said. When he first woke up, he thought he was blind.
The three rushed out of the house. It would take an hour and dozens of firefighters before the blaze was under control.
The $130,000 home is owned by Driver and Jeffrey S. Long, according to property records. The structure is considered a total loss.
Investigators determined the fire was caused by a mechanical failure associated with a scooter in the garage, Tampa Fire Rescue said. Damage to the home and its contents was estimated to be about $300,000.
As soon as Driver was out of the house, he remembered that his standard poodle, Trevor, and three birds were still inside.
So in they went. The men made several trips back in the house to rescue the animals.
They had to run in twice after the poodle, which darted back in the house after the first rescue.
Ausburn said there wasn't a doubt that he had to go in and help his neighbor of eight years.
"He's like my uncle," he said. "If he's going to die in the fire, I might as well go in there with him. He's like family to me. I'm not going to lose a family member."
Once they got the animals, they watched crews battle the blaze from Ausburn's home. They could feel the heat from the flames.
"He was just screaming, 'My house, my house,' " he said.
Ausburn's mother, Tammy Kerr, said she is just happy Driver is all right.
"Houses can be rebuilt," she said.
Times staff writers Andy Boyle and Shelley Rossetter contributed to this report.
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There are 8 comments Oldest First Newest First Top Rated

doodlebug wrote:
Heroes! I'm very proud of these guys!
Aug 30, 2010 11:20 AM
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tooprettyforprison wrote:
HEY. these guys owned the house right next to the one on 18th avenue in YBOR that was arson'd. SMALL WORLD, huh??? The one guy works for the FDLE so the properties are all unlisted. Jeffrey Long. The whole deal with those two is quite quite weird. Pay back of some sort going on here !
Aug 30, 2010 12:56 PM
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TimfromIndiana wrote:
Nice to hear positive stories. Good job to both men for their efforts.
Aug 30, 2010 4:25 PM
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mpbinpinellas wrote:
i am sure people are just burning to thank them.
Aug 30, 2010 6:40 PM
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littletampagal wrote:
hey tooprettyforprison..Jeffrey Long is a realtor and the property is listed on HCPA. Get your facts correct before posting your not correct comments!!
Aug 30, 2010 6:42 PM
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littletampagal wrote:
hey mpbinpinellas.. from someone that lost their house last year to a house fire and lost my dog in the fire, that is not funny. May the lord forgive you for your stupid comment!!!
Aug 30, 2010 6:51 PM
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elainec wrote:
Oops, sugarme is off her meds. Good job, Mr. Kerr and Mr. Ausburn.
Aug 30, 2010 6:53 PM
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tooprettyforprison wrote:
elainec, real nice. You're welcome for all the times I had your back. Whatever. LOL. THAT is THE ONE property which is listed. Numerous others: NOT. Yes he is a realtor AND w/the FDLE. I always have my facts straight. littletampagal: Yeah, they burnt down MY house when I was 12, as well and my little Christmas puppy was lost. But they weren't done YET. Spence Roberts, arsonist and Tampa fireman THEN burnt down my sister's home and now his fat, disgusting family lives there. And she is DEAD as a result. So ... this, besides the fact that he then tried to burn down my mother's house twice (IDIOT is a failure at everything he tries but 1/2 the arsons and some murders)perhaps causes me to look at TFR w/a sharper eye than most. They probably burnt your house down, too. Have a closer look at jeffrey long. The recent arson on 18th ave in ybor is NEXT DOOR to his other property under global one. Go have a look.
Aug 31, 2010 10:22 PM
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