A firefighter is suing the owner of a home he tried to save from a fire.



In March, firefighter Lawrence Wilson helped put out a fire at a home in the 4000 block of 18th Avenue.



Wilson, a lieutenant with the South Pasadena Fire Department, was injured while helping put out the fire.

Now, Wilson is suing the homeowner because he slipped on a piece of tile on a porch. The lawsuit claims that the owner failed to maintain his property.



The suit also says the homeowner should be held responsible for the firefighter's suffering, hospital bills, legal bills and emotional distress.



According to partner newspaper the Tampa Bay Times, Wilson is able to sue, citing negligence, because 23 years ago the Florida Legislature abolished the "Firefighter's rule," which for years had protected citizens from legal repercussion when emergency responders were injured on the job. In 1990, lawmakers tweaked the statute.



Essentially, they made emergency responders invited guests on properties, giving them the same right to sue as someone who slips on spilled juice in a grocery store.

Note: An earlier version of this story referred to Wilson as a St. Petersburg firefighter. This is incorrect. Officials with St. Petersburg Fire Rescue said Wilson's engine responded to the fire as part of a mutual aid agreement between SPFR and SPFD.