November 17, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2005-45) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (251) 208-5806/Fax: (251) 208-5813 E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org FIRE DAMAGES TWO STORY RESIDENCE Firefighters responded to a house fire located at 1853 Diggs Avenue Thursday morning, November 17, 2005 at approximately 8:38 a.m. The fire appears to have originated in the attic crawl space above the first floor kitchen and followed the A/C ductwork into the exterior wall of the second floor into the second floor attic and through the roof of the two-story, wood frame with brick veneer structure. The cause appears to have been from electrical wiring. The owner, Samuel Maye told Mobile Fire Investigators he noticed smoke coming from the heating/air conditioning ductwork. He stated that he had recently had A/C work performed about a month ago and had turned on the heat approximately one hour prior to smelling smoke and burning plastic. Investigators found burnt A/C flexible ductwork resting on a length of previously energized electrical wiring. The wiring appeared to be shorted and insulation melted away directly under the ignition point of the ductwork. The fire appears to have started by damaged electrical conductor and spread due to forced air from the heating unit. The fire caused an estimated $30 thousand in damage. No injuries were reported. Engines 8, 11, 14, truck 17, rescue 14 and District Chief Bill Glisson responded. ###