NEWS RELEASE May 26, 2000 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH100029) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (334) 208-5806/Fax: (334) 208-5813 ACCIDENTAL HOUSE FIRE CAUSED BY IMPROPER USE OF HEATING EQUIPEMENT Mobile Firefighters responded to a fire in a single story wood frame “shotgun” style house early Friday morning, May 26, 2000. The call was received at approximately 5:20 a.m. and first units arrived at approximately 5:24 a.m. and reported heavy fire coming from the structure located at 1810 Pleasant Avenue. The occupant, Theresa McDuffie, 36, told Mobile Fire Investigators she had left to take her cousin to the store and upon her return she discovered her rented home on fire. The fire appears to have originated in the bedroom in the middle of the structure and spread throughout causing an estimated $15 thousand in damage. The fire appears to have originated from some clothes hanging over a portable space heater. McDuffie told Fire Investigators that she had washed her children’s clothes and had placed the portable heater on top of another fixed type heater and hung the clothes over the heater to dry them. No injuries were reported. Engines 3, 8, 14, truck 17, rescue 14 and District 1 Chief Howard Ollhoft responded. ###