Story Tools • • Date of Issue: May 25, 2006 Fire leaves surgeon's residence uninhabitable By Mike Quinn. Special to The Islander This Palma Sola waterfront home is uninhabitable after Friday’s fire. Islander Photo: Courtesy Cedar Hammock Fire & Rescue A surgeon's house was uninhabitable following a fire that started at about noon May 19 on the top floors of the three-story structure at 2110 Palma Sola Blvd., Bradenton. Five fire engines and two ladder trucks from West Manatee Fire & Rescue, Cedar Hammock Fire & Rescue and the Bradenton Fire Department were called out to extinguish the blaze. It took approximately 2 1/2 hours and 30 firefighters to put the fire out, due to the complexity of the internal layout of the structure, according to firefighters. Most of the damage was confined to the top floors and attic. The Manatee County Building Department declared the home uninhabitable, due to the extensive fire, water and smoke damage. The owner, Dr. Joseph Jacob, an orthopedic surgeon, was at Tampa International Airport, about to board a plane to go on vacation, reports say. The home, which sits on the western edge of Palma Sola Bay, is valued at $1.8 million dollars, according to local property records. The local fire marshal was investigating, as well as the state fire marshal's office. Damage was largely confined to the interior of the home. No one was in the home at the time of the fire. NewsManatee.com publisher Mike Quinn provided this story.