Orlando Warehouse Fire: Fourth person dies days after blaze that ignited fireworks

LAKE MARY, Fla. - A fourth person has died days after a fire broke out at an Orlando-area warehouse that ignited fireworks inside the building, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.

Elizabeth Tiralongo, 22, has been identified as the fourth death in the fire at the Magic in the Sky facility located in the Orange County community of Taft last Thursday. The warehouse, located at 901 Central Florida Parkway,  is home to several businesses, but the fire was contained to just one unit, firefighters said.

Over the weekend, a third victim, Landon Bourland, 24, died from injuries related to the fire.  On Friday, fire officials named David Gonzalez, 22, and Lindsey Phillips, 23, as the other two people who lost their lives because of the fire. 

The fire remains under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal. Officials with Magic in the Sky said they are also conducting an internal investigation into the cause of the fire. 

"Magic in the Sky will conduct a thorough and complete review of this incident and make our findings available to the public. In the interim, we ask that you let investigations take place and allow us to focus on our personnel, the injured, and their families. We kindly request that you also respect the privacy of the families involved as they grieve and work through this most difficult time," a statement read.

FOX 35 News has learned more about the type of fireworks stored in that facility. They are called "special effects" fireworks. These are professional grade fireworks, larger than bottle rockets and sparklers, but not as large as the fireworks you may see during a show on the Fourth of July.

Julie Heckman, the Executive Director of the American Pyrotechnics Association (APA), said that’s a lower grade of firework and is regulated differently.

"It’s a lower class. It behaves much less energetic, which also troubles me as to why this fire was to the extent that it was," she said.

The APA said the warehouse where the fire happened was mixed-commodity with seven different business licenses – including, the APA said, businesses storing pool chemicals and furniture.

According to Orlando’s municipal code, structures containing fireworks must be stored inside a freestanding building, with 20 feet of clear space on each side. They also have to be made of non-combustible material.

"Something was right because it didn’t spread, but I would also question, what is the egress? How many paths were there to get out?" Heckman wondered.

Heckman said she would like to read the safety measures the company had to take to receive a license. She is also interested in what the State Fire Marshal will say once the investigation is concluded.

"It’s just really, really horrific," she said. "Nobody wants to see the loss of life at all, but this is something that’s trickling across the whole industry right now. We’re all really wondering what happened and how can we prevent it in the future?"

Several others were injured in the fire, but their conditions on Tuesday were not immediately known. 

FOX 35 News spoke with the parents of 27-year-old Lindsey Tallafuss who is fighting for her life in the hospital after being burned on 62% of her body. Another unidentified person is also in the hospital recovering from injuries. 

"All you can see is from here to here, and her toes and this is all burnt," Cheryl Tallafuss explained as she gestured to her face.  "Her entire face, scalp… the only place we can touch is her feet. She was wearing work boots."

The warehouse is owned by a company called Magic in the Sky. The boyfriend of Lindsey Tallafuss, who also works at the warehouse, was outside at the time.