November 20, 2002 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2002-42) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (251) 208-5806/Fax: (251) 208-5813 E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org MOBILE FIREFIGHTERS RESPOND TO MORNING HOUSE FIRE Mobile firefighters were called to a house fire at 200 Ogden Avenue on Wednesday morning, November 20, 2002. The call was received from a neighbor's house at approximately 5:48 a.m. Firefighters arrived at approximately 5:53 a.m. and reported heavy fire coming from the one-story, wood frame residential structure. The owner, Arthurine Carstarpheh, told Mobile Fire Investigators that she got up during the night and lit a candle in the bathroom and went back to bed. An occupant of the house smelled smoke later in the morning and went to investigate it's origin and discovered smoke coming from the bathroom located in the rear of the house. Carstarpheh and other 6 occupants (4 children and 3 adults) all escaped unharmed from the house. She then went to a neighbor's house to call 911. The fire appears to have originated in the back bathroom and extended throughout the structure. The power had been cut off for several months and according to Mobile Gas Company the gas service had been disconnected in July of 2001. Damage is estimated at $20 thousand. No injuries were reported. Engines 12, 15, 18, truck 10, rescue 23 and District 3 Chief John D. Young responded. ###