February 10, 2003 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2003-13) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (251) 208-5806/Fax: (251) 208-5813 E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org CAUSE OF 1651 DUVAL STREET FIRE DETERMINED Mobile Fire Investigators have concluded their investigation into a house fire that claimed the life of Abe Nettles, Sr., 93 Sunday night, February 9, 2003. The fire occurred at 1651 Duval Street and appears to have originated in the enclosed porch of the one-story wood frame structure. The fire is being ruled an accident and appears to have been caused when clothing was left too close to a fixed gas space heater located in the area of the fire's origin. According to Nettles son, Abe Nettles, Jr., 59, his father suffered from Alzheimer's Disease and had started some fires in the last week by laying clothing and other items on the heater where he commonly would sleep at night. Fire Investigators found some burned articles of clothing in the area of the heater identified as belonging to the elder Nettles. An autopsy is being performed by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences to determine the exact cause of death. ###