April 8, 2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2010-18) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (251) 208-2857/Fax: (251) 208-2861 E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org MAN DIES IN APARTMENT FIRE Firefighters responded to the report of a fire at the Colony Park Apartments located at 233 Country Lane off Airport Boulevard late Wednesday evening, April 7. The call was received from an upstairs neighbor at approximately 11:23 p.m. reporting smoke in the apartment below. Arriving firefighters were directed by neighbors to a window of the apartment involved. Firefighters noted smoke inside and an unresponsive person on the floor. Firefighters forced entry discovering the 49-year-old male occupant on the floor just inside the door. Also discovered was a small fire in the kitchen on the stove that had mostly burned itself out prior to arrival. Firefighters extinguished the remaining smothering material and surrounding smoldering cabinets. The victim was pronounced dead on the scene. The fire appears to be unintentional and originated on the stove and self extinguished, causing heavy smoke and heat to build up in the apartment. Fire Investigators discovered a large quantity of medications in the apartment believed to belong to the occupant. Although an autopsy will reveal the exact cause of death Fire Investigators believe that the victim may have begun cooking something on the stove and may have taken some medications that caused him to become drowsy and fall asleep. The pan on the stove, left unattended, ignited the contents in the pan and began to burn, building up heavy smoke. The victim awoke, stood up and was knocked unconscious by the smoke and heat thus killing him. An upstairs neighbor smelled smoke and called 9-1-1. Damage is estimated at approximately $15 thousand. No other injuries were reported. The name of the victim will be withheld pending notification of family and an autopsy. Engines 18, 22, 29, truck 5, rescue 18, District Chief David Rose responded to the fire. The fire is being investigated by the Bureau of Fire Prevention. ###