January 26, 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2011-11) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (251) 208-2857/Fax: (251) 208-2861 E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org TWO ALARM FIRE DAMAGES THREE HOUSES Firefighters responded to a report of three houses on fire at Marine and Savannah Streets early Wednesday morning, January 26. Fire dispatchers received multiple calls at approximately 3 a.m., including an on-duty police officer who spotted the glow of the fire while on patrol, reporting heavy fire coming from a house on the corner at 350 Marine Street. Firefighters arrived on the scene reporting one structure burned to the ground and fire spreading to two neighboring houses. Occupants in the other structures had already evacuated safely and without apparent injury. Heavy winds at the time of the fire caused the fire to spread quickly to the neighboring homes and fire officials on the scene called for a 2nd alarm assignment to assist with combating the fire. The occupant at 352 Marine Street, a female and her 4 year old grand-daughter and the occupant at 953 Savannah Street, a female who lived alone, told fire investigators they heard a popping noise and looked out the window to discover the fire. The fire appears to have originated from the corner house at 350 Marine Street. The structure was vacant and under going renovations. Investigators discovered what appears to have been vagrant activity inside the structure. The cause is under investigation but investigators are asking anyone with information to call the Arson Hotline at 208-MFRD. There were no reported injuries in the fire that caused an estimated $130 thousand in damage to all the structures and their contents. 1St Alarm Assignment: Engines 2, 3, 11; truck 4; rescue 3 and District Chief Alex Trenier. 2nd Alarm Assignment: Engines 8, 9; truck 17; rescue 14 and District Chief LeAnn Tacon. The Bureau of Fire Prevention is conducting the investigation. ###