November 12, 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2011-88) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (251) 208-2857/Fax: (251) 208-2861 E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org HOUSE FIRE ON SENECA STREET Firefighters responded to the report of a house fire Saturday morning, November 12, located at 1251 Seneca Street. The call was received at approximately 9:07 a.m. with firefighters arriving on the scene at approximately 9:11 a.m. reporting heavy smoke and fire coming from a bedroom window of a single story, wood frame structure. All occupants escaped without apparent injury. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire quickly. The owner, Douglas Portis, Jr. told fire investigators he woke up and lit a cigarette with a Zippo lighter, he thought he had closed the lighter and threw it on the bed to go outside to smoke because he doesn't smoke inside. While outside talking to his neighbor they saw smoke coming from the window. He looked inside and saw a small fire on his bed. He then grabbed a garden hose and attempted to extinguish the fire. Meanwhile his wife and two sons were still inside and were alerted by the smoke alarm and made their escape. The accidental fire started on the bed and spread to the hallway causing approximately $30 thousand in damage. Engines 2, 9, 11; truck 24; rescue 3 and District Chief Alex Trenier responded to the fire. The Bureau of Fire Prevention investigated the fire. ###