Four dead in fire at home of James Blake, former tennis star (updated)
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Version 0 of 1. Updated at 3:30 p.m. with fourth fatality. The bodies of four people have been found after a fire destroyed the Avila, Fla., home owned by former tennis player James Blake. Blake and his family are in Connecticut, his management company confirmed. Sports Illustrated reports that Blake was renting the mansion ‘to someone else.” The fire at the home north of Tampa was so intense that it continues to smolder and investigators may be unable to enter the home to examine evidence for days, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Donna Lusczynski said. Firefighters, who initially responded to a 911 call around 5:45 a.m., are also concerned about the structural integrity of the massively damaged home and found fireworks inside. The identities of the victims have not been released and it is not apparent whether they died in the fire or from another cause. [PHOTO] From @HCSOSheriff of #Avila fire at home of tennis star James Blake. http://t.co/gbsWyTrNJJ pic.twitter.com/aBgRWhco1x— TBO.com (@TBOcom) May 7, 2014 [PHOTO] From @HCSOSheriff of #Avila fire at home of tennis star James Blake. http://t.co/gbsWyTrNJJ pic.twitter.com/aBgRWhco1x Hot spots flaring up at mansion in Avila where 3 dead, 4th suspected. Reportedly gunshots to head. pic.twitter.com/Imes1Hwx1b— Meredyth Censullo (@MeredythTV) May 7, 2014 Hot spots flaring up at mansion in Avila where 3 dead, 4th suspected. Reportedly gunshots to head. pic.twitter.com/Imes1Hwx1b Here’s a shot of the exterior of 16223 Sierra de Avila. 2 bodies found in burning million dollar home. pic.twitter.com/9YGaBOJe3X— Meredyth Censullo (@MeredythTV) May 7, 2014 Here’s a shot of the exterior of 16223 Sierra de Avila. 2 bodies found in burning million dollar home. pic.twitter.com/9YGaBOJe3X Damage from a house fire at the #Tampa home of tennis player, #JamesBlake. More details at noon. @HillsFireRescue pic.twitter.com/4YAIdV9tQu— Joe Gumm (@JoeGumm) May 7, 2014 Damage from a house fire at the #Tampa home of tennis player, #JamesBlake. More details at noon. @HillsFireRescue pic.twitter.com/4YAIdV9tQu Blake, 34, who is married and has a 2-year-old daughter, retired from competitive tennis last year. |