April 21, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2006-19) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (251) 208-5806/Fax: (251) 208-5813 E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org CANDLE BLAMED FOR OVERNIGHT FIRE Mobile Firefighters responded to a fire in a manufactured home located at 6950 B Westchester Drive early Friday morning, April 21, 2006. The call was received at approximately 2:52 a.m. and firefighters arrived on the scene to discover a manufactured home fully involved with fire and the roof on the South end already collapsed. The fire also extended to a nearby shed. There was thermal damage to the residence at 6950 A Westchester Drive. The fire appears to have originated in the bedroom on the South end of the structure where a candle had been left burning when the occupant, Samuel Christopher Matthews, fell asleep. Matthews told Mobile Fire Investigators that he woke up to find the curtains and the foot of the bed on fire. He managed to escape with only minor burns to the hand. The fire caused an estimated $40 thousand in damage. No other injuries were reported. Engines 6, 7, 19, truck 5, rescue 6 and District Chief Doug Cooper responded. Tillman's Corner Volunteer Fire Department also responded. ###