By Carl Fish
Two people were found deceased Sunday morning after a residential fire in northeast Winter Haven, according to the Winter Haven Police Department.
Firefighters with the Winter Haven Fire Department and Polk County Fire Rescue were dispatched shortly after 10:13 a.m. to a home on 5th Street NE.
According to initial radio traffic, the first arriving crews encountered a single-story residential structure with heavy fire showing. Following a 360-degree assessment of the home, the incident commander reported approximately 50 percent of the structure was involved with heavy smoke and flames. Firefighters deployed multiple hose lines, secured utilities and initiated both fire suppression and search operations.
During the incident, emergency radio traffic indicated firefighters believed they had located victims inside the residence.
In an update provided to Daily Ridge, Winter Haven Police Department Public Information Officer Jamie Brown confirmed two deceased victims were located inside the structure.
Brown also said firefighters were able to bring the fire under control within approximately five minutes of beginning suppression efforts.
The identities of the victims have not been released, and no information regarding their ages or relationship has been made public.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office was requested to respond to assist with the investigation, which is standard procedure in fatal fire incidents.
Additional information is expected to be released as the investigation continues.
