March 23, 2004 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2004-07) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (251) 208-5806/Fax: (251) 208-5813 E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org UPDATE ON INVESTIGATION OF WESTPORT APARTMENT FIRE Mobile Fire Investigators are now looking into the possibility that children playing with fire may have caused the fire that caused an estimated $150 thousand in damage to the Westport Apartments, Saturday, March 20, 2004, located at 1701 Hillcrest Road. The preliminary investigation appeared to indicate the fire might have started in the attic above apartment # 70 of the two-story wood frame apartment building. The fire was reported at approximately 2:55 p.m. on Saturday with the first arriving unit arriving at approximately 2:59 p.m. reporting heavy fire coming from the roof of the structure. Mobile Fire Investigators initially were looking at the cause as possible faulty wiring but after further investigation and witness reports they have now turned their attention toward possibly some children may have been playing with fire outside the building as the cause. The cause of the fire remains under investigation but is now being listed as "Suspicious Circumstances". No injuries were reported. Eight (8) units in the building received varying degrees of damage as a result of the fire. ###