March 7, 2001 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2001-18) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (334) 208-5806/Fax: (334) 208-5813 E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org FIRE CAUSES DAMAGE TO UPSTAIRS PORTION OF APARTMENT Mobile Firefighters responded to an apartment fire in the Willow Creek I apartments, located at 22 West Drive off Old Shell Road this Wednesday morning, March 7, 2001. The fire occurred in the upstairs portion of apartment number 16 in Building 4 and was reported at approximately 7:07 a.m. When responding firefighters got to Old Shell Road and West Drive they reported seeing a large column of smoke coming from the direction of the apartments and requested a 2nd alarm response be assigned. When firefighters arrived at approximately 7:14 a.m. at the 2-story apartment the occupant who told them her three children were inside the burning apartment met them. Firefighters made entry into the apartment but no children were found. A next door neighbor, Leta Sullivan, 33, told Mobile Fire Investigators that one of her children came in and told her the apartment next door was on fire. Sullivan went outside to investigate and saw the three children in apartment 16 asking for help to get out. Sullivan told her daughter to go to another neighbor and tell them to call 911. Sullivan then told the three children to back away from the window. Sullivan then broke the window out and pulled the three to safety before firefighters arrived. Natasha Hatfield, 21, the occupant of apartment 16 told Fire Investigators she had left the sleeping children in the apartment while she went to Brunos. Upon her return she saw smoke and ran upstairs to get her children where she saw fire and had to leave the apartment. Hatfield was treated on the scene for minor smoke inhalation. Hatfield's 7 year old daughter Di'jon Thomas told Mobile Fire Investigators she discovered the fire in a bedroom and ran and woke up her younger brother, Dion Cobb, 4 and sister Alexia Hatfield, 2 and took them downstairs to escape but were unable to get the door unlocked. Shortly after their neighbor came to their aide. The fire appears to have originated in the Master Bedroom on the West Side of the upstairs. The fire spread into the hall, bathroom, 2 other bedrooms and through the roof. Firefighters, along with a "fire stop" built into the attic were able to stop the fires spread to adjoining apartments. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Damage is estimated at approximately $20 thousand. No other injuries were reported. Engines 18, 1, 22, truck 5, rescue 18 and Acting District 3 Chief Captain John Pitt responded on the 1st alarm. Engines 6, 15, truck 10 and District 4 Chief Martin Stanley responded on the 2nd alarm assignment. ###