Firefighters battled a blaze at Tymber Skan apartments along Tymberwood Lane and Barkwater Drive in Orlando on Tuesday morning.

According to Orange County Fire Rescue, the fire at the troubled apartment complex was put out at about 8:30 a.m. There were no reported injuries.

An estimated eight units of a building were involved in the fire, and they all appeared to be vacant.

According to Orange County officials, the building was slated for demolition in a few weeks. 


While investigators are still working on tracking down a cause, county officials said they are working on demolishing other buildings in the area that have been condemned. However, many of the condemned condos remain occupied, and much of the area is still inhabited by legal residents. 

"We live in a country that values the rights for people to own their homes, and we can't just come in to the rest of the people who own condos in Tymber Skan and say, 'Well, we've had a fire over here so we are going to throw you out of your home and claim it,' " Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs said. 

Residents, many of whom are on fixed incomes, said they're fed up with the fires.

“You got children playing out here. Regardless of whether it’s Tymber Skan, this is where somebody lives. We're human beings. That’s life. I hold that real, real high," said Levi Burch, who has lived at Tymber Skan for 12 years. "I don’t care what color you are, life is life, and it’s real precious.

"You mean to tell me they can find (Osama) bin Laden, they can find anybody they want to. If I owed child support, they’ll find me, but they can’t find who is burning this buildings down out here?”

Birch said he's aware of the risks living in the area brings but has nowhere else to go.

"They need to come out here and put lights up here, I think they need to put a guard gate up and fix things and treat us like human beings." Birch said. 

The county said it is doing all it can in Tymber Skan and has plans to demolish 27 more buildings in the area.

The state's fire marshal will be investigating Tuesday blaze.

Tymber Skan demolition update


SOURCE: Orange County