November 16, 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2011-91) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (251) 208-2857/Fax: (251) 208-2861 E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org HOUSE FIRE ON WARSAW AVENUE Exposed electrical wires are to blame for a house fire Wednesday morning, November 16, located at 2806 Warsaw Avenue. A call reporting smoke visible from the single-story, wood frame house was received at approximately 10:45 a.m. Firefighters arriving approximately six minutes later reported nothing visible but once inside discovered smoke and followed it to the source which was in the bedroom. Once in the bedroom they a small fire in a pile of clothing and quickly extinguished the flames. Fire investigators found an electrical cord in the bedroom that had missing insulation. The exposed cord was lying across a chair and a pile of clothing, which it had caught on fire. The fire was confined to the bedroom causing an estimated $10 thousand in damage to the structure and approximately $500 in contents. No injuries were reported. Engines 12, 14, 15; truck 10; rescue 14 and District Chief Aubrey Bishop responded to the fire. The Bureau of Fire Prevention conducted the investigation. Safety Tips • Replace or repair loose or frayed cords on all electrical devices. • Avoid running extension cords across doorways or under carpets. • In homes with small children, unused wall sockets and extension-cord receptacles should have plastic safety covers. • Consider having additional circuits or outlets added by a qualified electrician so you do not have to use extension cords. • Follow the manufacturer's instructions for plugging an appliance into a receptacle outlet. • Avoid overloading outlets. Plug only one high-wattage appliance into each receptacle outlet at a time. • If outlets or switches feel warm, shut off the circuit and have them checked by an electrician. • When possible, avoid the use of "cube taps" and other devices that allow the connection of multiple appliances into a single receptacle. • Place lamps on level surfaces, away from things that can burn and use bulbs that match the lamp's recommended wattage. ###