On Christmas morning, Tampa Fire rescue units responded to a fire alarm at the Meridian Pointe Apartments on East Hillsborough Avenue. The fire was at building 9, a three-story unit with 24 apartments.
When units arrived they reported a fire in apartment 905. The fire was under control in 20 minutes and residents were evacuated safely.
An investigator with the Tampa Fire Marshal’s Office determined someone burglarized then set a fire in the bedroom of apartment 905. The building sprinkler system held the fire in check until units arrived. The apartment sustained moderate damage from fire[private], smoke and water. A downstairs apartment sustained water damage.
The tenant of apartment 905, Vanveline Campaz, 48, was not at home when the fire started and arrived after fire crews finished most of their work.
On December 27th after two days of interviewing witnesses and associates of Campaz, investigators arrested William J. Boone, 37, and charged him with burglary, arson and grand theft. Boone is the boyfriend of Campaz’s daughter.[/private]
