July 3, 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2011-51) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (251) 208-2857/Fax: (251) 208-2861 E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org GARAGE FIRE ON DOCENA DRIVE Fire destroyed an unattached two car garage located at 8030 Docena Drive on Sunday afternoon, July 3. The call was received at approximately 1:40 p.m. When firefighters arrived on the scene the fire had broken through the roof and the one-story cinder block structure was fully involved with fire. The owner told fire investigators his son had been doing some welding in the garage and when finished he left to go do some shopping. Approximately 15-20 minutes later the owner spotted smoke coming from an open door. He and a neighbor were going to attempt to put the fire out but by the time they were able to get a garden hose hooked up the fire had grown beyond what they could control. Fire investigators determined that sparks/hot embers from the welding falling into nearby combustibles caused the fire. The garage housed an older model pick-up truck, several lawn mowers, gasoline and other combustibles (i.e. paper) which contributed to the fires rapid spread. There were no reported injuries. Damage is estimated at $17,500. Engines 6, 22,26; truck 27; rescue 26 and acting District Chief, Captain Don Dobbs, as well as units from Theodore Volunteer Fire Department responded. The Bureau of Fire Prevention conducted the investigation. ###