February 9, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2007-08) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (251) 208-2857/Fax: (251) 208-2861 E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org FIRE DESTROYS BAY ROAD HOME A fire destroyed a house located at 7361 Bay Road early Friday morning, February 9, 2007. The call was received at approximately 6:40 a.m. reporting the fire and that two people may be inside the structure. Mobile Firefighters first arrived at approximately 6:45 a.m. reporting a single-story, wood frame structure fully engulfed in fire. The occupants alerted the firefighters that they had escaped without apparent injury and that no one was inside the structure. The occupants, Brian and Amanda Day, told Mobile Fire Investigators that they woke up to the sound of the smoke alarm and saw smoke and fire on the Southwest corner of the house, about where the kitchen was located and escaped through the back door of the house. A neighbor told Investigators they he was about to leave for work and first saw the fire around the utility room which is adjacent to the kitchen. Fire Investigators believe the fire started in the utility room around the natural gas water heater. The fire appears to have been caused by combustibles being stored too close to the pilot light chamber of the water heater but remains under investigation at this time. There were no reported injuries and damage is estimated at approximately $80 thousand. Engines 7, 16, 20, truck 24, rescue 7 and District 2 Chief Randy Smith responded to the call. • Remove paper, accumulated dust or other combustibles from the heater enclosure. Never store combustible/flammable items around the water heater. • Extinguish the pilot light before using flammable liquids or setting off aerosol bug bombs near the unit. Never store combustibles close by. • Raise the water heater so the pilot light is 18 in. above the floor. This can help prevent ignition of gasoline vapors that collect near the floor. • Inspect the flue for breaks or gaps that could leak deadly exhaust gas. (This is a good practice to do on other gas appliances.) ###