November 16, 2002 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2002-41) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (251) 208-5806/Fax: (251) 208-5813 E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org ONE INJURED IN HOUSE FIRE Mobile firefighters were called to the scene of a house fire located at 1451 Douglas Street at Michigan Avenue on Saturday, November 16, 2002. The call was received at approximately 9:43 a.m. from the owner, Flora Sewell, 50, who told fire dispatchers she was inside the house and could not get the burglar bars open to escape. By the time firefighters arrived at approximately 9:48 a.m. neighbors had already gotten the bars open and had helped to get Sewell out of the burning 1-story wood frame structure. Sewell had what appeared to be 2nd degree burns and was transported by Fire-Rescue Unit 3 to the University of South Alabama Medical Center Burn Unit for treatment. The fire appears to have originated in a bedroom on or near the bed in which Sewell was believed to have been in. Mobile Fire Investigators did not find an exact cause of the fire but according to relatives on the scene the victim did smoke. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The fire caused heat and smoke damage throughout the structure. Damage is estimated at $25 thousand. No other injuries were reported. Engines 2, 9, 11, truck 17, rescue 3, rescue 23 and District 1 Chief Don Myers responded. ###