November 14, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2013-37) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (251) 208-2857/Fax: (251) 208-2861 E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org FIREPLACE BLAMED FOR HOUSE FIRE Mobile firefighters responded to a house fire Wednesday evening, November 13 on Gentilly Lane. The first call was received at approximately 8:53 p.m. and firefighters arrived shortly after reporting heavy smoke and fire coming from the rear of the residence. Once inside firefighters discovered the fire was around the fireplace and in the attic space and quickly extinguished it. The five occupants, a young couple in their 20’s, two teens and a 7-year-old, escaped unharmed. The adult male occupant told fire investigators that they had not been living in the structure for very long and had started their first fire in the fireplace. They began to smell smoke but attributed it to the fire in the fireplace. Sometime later they discovered a glow between the walls and called 9-1-1. Fire investigators determined that there were cracks or gaps in the walls of the fireplace allowing hot embers to fall between them thus catching the wood on fire. Damage is estimated at approximately $10,500.00 for the structure and its contents. Engines 10, 15, 18; truck 5; rescue 18 and District Chief Alex Trenier responded. The Bureau of Fire Prevention conducted the investigation. The leading causes of home heating fires are: • Placing things that can burn too close to portable and fixed space heaters. • Failure to clean chimneys and connectors. • Improper design and installation. • Fueling errors involving liquid or gas fueled heaters. • Leaving auxiliary (i.e. portable space heaters) heating equipment unattended. All of these methods of heating may be acceptable. They are however, a major contributing factor in residential fires. Many of these fires can be prevented. • Do not use flammable liquids to start or accelerate any fire. • Keep glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace opening. • Before going to sleep, be sure your fireplace fire is out. NEVER close your damper with hot ashes in the fireplace. • Follow instruction when using synthetic logs. • Space heaters need to be given at least a three foot clearance all the way around the heater. • Avoid using extension cords when using electric space heaters but if you must use a proper size and unplug when not in use. • Turn portable heaters off and unplug them before leaving home or when going to bed. • Never use ovens as a means to heat the home. • Install Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors if you have gas fueled appliances. ###