January 23, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2009-06) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (251) 208-2857/Fax: (251) 208-2861 E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org APARTMENT FIRE SENDS FIVE TO AREA HOSPITALS Investigators with Mobile Fire-Rescue Department are currently working to determine the cause of an apartment fire that sent five residents to area hospitals Friday morning, January 23. The fire occurred in building fourteen of the South Haven Senior Living Apartments located at 3577 Dauphin Island Parkway. The 9-1-1 call was received at approximately 7:12 a.m. and firefighters from Petrey Station (#20) located approximately a block away arrived shortly after the call reporting heavy fire and smoke coming from the single-story wood frame structure. Soon after arrival firefighters were told that people may still be in the building. Firefighters from Engine 16 and 20 quickly began to extinguish the fire and search for possible victims. Firefighters assigned to Engine 16 broke into Apartment 60 at the rear of the building and found a 49 year old female unconscious from the smoke and heat. They quickly brought her out and Firemedics loaded her and transported to USAMC with 2nd degree burns to 10-12% of her legs and inhalation injuries stemming from inhaling smoke and heat. While enroute to the hospital the victim was revived and was able to speak to Firemedics. She told them she woke up and crawled to the door, when she opened the door the breezeway was engulfed in flames. She closed the door and crawled back to her bedroom, closing it behind her and attempted to open the window and escape but was unable to do so. She soon was overcome by the smoke and heat. The second victim, a 72 year old male in apartment 58 escaped on his own and suffered 1st and some 2nd degree burns to his total back, right arm, back of left arm and neck. He was transported to USAMC. Firefighters from Engine 9 arrived on the scene and observed from the front of apartment 57 what appeared to be a hand in the bedroom window waving. Firefighters attempted to enter through the common breezeway door to no avail. They returned to the front of the apartment and entered through the front window. There they found the 3rd victim an 84 year old female standing with her walker in the hall of the apartment. Firefighters escorted her to the living room where they picked her up and took her out the window. She stated she was fine but had inhaled some smoke and she was transported to Springhill Medical Center for observation and treatment. Victim 4 was a 65 year old female in apartment 59 who advised she woke up to notice the power was off and walked to her front door and upon opening it received a minor flash burn to her forehead and immediately retreated back inside her bedroom. She was later rescued by her neighbor a 65 year old female, who heard what she thought were children playing outside and screaming. She went to investigate and saw smoke coming from the nearby apartment building and heard her neighbor screaming for help. She ran over and pulled her neighbor through the bedroom window to safety. While assisting her neighbor she inhaled smoke and later experienced a little bit of breathing difficulty and was transported to USAMC for treatment. Her neighbor was transported to Mobile Infirmary Medical for observation and treatment. Firefighters also saved two cats from apartment 59. One was saved early during firefighting operations but the second cat proved to be elusive and after being on the scene for approximately 1 ½ hours firefighters were finally able to pulled him from the apartment. The fire appears to have originated in apartment 58 in the front of the building. The fire spread into the attic above all four apartment units, into the breezeway and the exterior of the front and back of the building. The cause of the fire remains under investigation and a damage estimate is not available at this time. Due to HIPAA laws Mobile Fire-Rescue Department cannot give victims names. Engines 9, 16, 20, truck 17, rescues 3, 7, 23, 24 and Deputy Chief Randy Smith and District Chief Alex Trenier responded to the fire. The investigation is being conducted by the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department’s Fire Marshal Office. ###