Florida man who was found dead in burned home with family had bought fireworks

TAMPA, Fla. – A man found dead with his wife and two teenage children inside the U.S. home they rented from a former tennis star had bought $650 worth of fireworks days before the house was destroyed in an inferno, and a neighbour told a police dispatcher he heard firecrackers as the blaze burned.

Authorities have said they think Wednesday’s fire was intentionally set. They have not said how it started.

The home is owned by former tennis star James Blake, who was renting the house to the Campbell family and was not there at the time.

An executive with a fireworks company said a man found dead inside the home bought more than a dozen items from a store a few days ago.

William Weimer, vice-president of Phantom fireworks, said Darrin Campbell purchased the fireworks Sunday. Campbell’s father-in-law said Campbell, his wife and their two children were found dead.

Neighbours told police they heard explosions coming from the home. Police think the fire was intentionally set and that an accelerant was used, but they haven’t said who started the fire or why.

Weimer says Campbell bought six packages of firecrackers and about that many packs of aerial fireworks. He said the fireworks could have started a fire but it would have spread slowly.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Col. Donna Lusczynski described the fire as unusual and said there were “various fireworks” throughout the home. Two victims suffered from upper-body trauma. She also said no weapons had been found.

Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Debbie Carter said autopsies were being performed Thursday.

“We are not looking for any suspects, not at this point in the investigation,” she said.

Police said the family had been living there for about two years. Neither deputies nor the Department of Children and Families had been called to the home, officials said.

A former neighbour, George Connley, said they were a nice family.

“We know nothing of any problems,” Connley said. “The kids were outstanding children. This is very difficult to put our arms around.”

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Schneider reported from Orlando.

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