January 11, 2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2010-03) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (251) 208-2857/Fax: (251) 208-2861 E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org INVESTIGATION INTO SUNDAY'S FATAL FIRE CONTINUES The investigation into the cause of a late night fire in a mobile home located at 9155C Dawes Lane, North that claimed the lives of Vernon Andrews, 68 and his son Chris Andrews, 40’s continues. Fire Investigators with Mobile Fire-Rescue’s Bureau of Fire Prevention have thus far ruled out anything electrical as being the cause and it still appears the cause was accidental. Investigators did find evidence of an explosion which could have been caused by the liquid oxygen containers that were in the mobile home. According to family members Vernon Andrews suffered from lung disease and was on oxygen 24 hours a day. He was a previous smoker. Andrews also apparently suffered from severe back pain and shoulder problems and due to the pain was only able to sit up for very short periods. The elder Andrews spent a majority of his time in bed and due to the pain and weakness he was unable to care for himself. Chris Andrews, his son, was his primary caregiver. Chris was a smoker but according to his family never smoked inside the mobile home due to the presents of oxygen. ###