August 16, 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2011-60) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (251) 208-2857/Fax: (251) 208-2861 E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org CHARCOAL GRILL CAUSE OF HOUSE FIRE Firefighters responded to the report of a house fire located at 1608 Gilda Circle early Tuesday morning, August 16. The call was received at approximately 2:16 a.m. and when firefighters arrived on the scene reporting heavy fire and smoke coming through the roof of the single-story, wood frame structure. All seven occupants, three adults and four children, escaped without apparent injury. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire which was mainly at the rear of the structure. Fire investigators discovered the remains of a charcoal grill near the remains of a wooden deck at the rear of the structure. Also discovered was a motorcycle in the fire rubble. The occupant told fire investigators that he had used the grill around 6 p.m. and it was placed on the wooden deck and had some holes in the bottom of it. Hot embers fell through the holes on the bottom of the grill thus causing the fire to start underneath the wooden deck. The fire began to consume the deck and spread to the motorcycle. The fuel, tires and plastics on the motorcycle helped fuel the fire further thus spreading it into the rear of the structure near the laundry room, into the attic and through the roof. Damage is estimated at approximately $75 thousand to the contents and structure. No injuries were reported. Engines 1, 12, 15; truck 10, rescue 18 and District Chief Aubrey Bishop responded to the fire. The Bureau of Fire Prevention is conducting the investigation. ###