May 18, 2000 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (334) 208-5806/Fax: (334) 208-5813 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH100027) EXPOSED LAMP SUSPECTED OF HOUSE FIRE Firefighters from Mobile Fire-Rescue Department responded to a house fire located at 2655 First Avenue on Wednesday night, May 17, 2000. The call was received at approximately 10:22 p.m. and first firefighters arrived at approximately 10:27 p.m. and reported heavy fire coming from the one-story, wood frame structure. The fire appears to have originated in the middle bedroom located near the southeast corner of the structure. The fire extended up to the attic and through the roof above. There was heavy heat damage in adjacent bedrooms. The owners and occupants Ollie and Lilly Chapman escaped without injury. Lillie Chapman told Mobile Fire Investigators that she heard a popping noise coming from the middle bedroom. When she went to see what it was she discovered the bedroom on fire. They also stated they had set a lamp without a shade on a shoebox on the bed. Investigators suspect the lamp tipped over heating the bedding enough to ignite it into flames. Damage estimate is $25 thousand. No injuries were reported. Engines 14, 15, 12, truck 10, rescue 14 and District 3 Chief Mike Farver. ###