Firefighters seek cause of home fire

Published 5:00 am Monday, May 21, 2007

A Brookhaven home sustained heavy damage Friday when a fireapparently started in the back bedroom, city firefighters said.

Brookhaven Fire Department Capt. Charles Francis said the firecaused about 80 percent damages to the home owned by Ada O. Berryat 112 Adams St., and he estimated the contents damage at 100percent. He said an investigation into the cause is under way.

“So far the cause is undetermined; it could have been a numberof things,” Francis said. “It had already burned through theceiling in the back bedroom, so it’s pretty obvious it started backthere.”

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A call reporting the fire came in around 9:05 a.m., Francissaid.

“The back two rooms were fully involved when we got there,” hesaid. “And it was pretty well contained to the kitchen and the backbedroom.”

Firefighters on the scene said a neighbor had told them andpolice officers she believed one of the residents of the home wastrapped inside the house. However, a search found no one inside thebuilding.

“Truck Four was first on the scene,” said Francis. “The neighborsaid she thought the lady was still at home, so they went in. But(Lt.) Steve (Davis) went in and did a search and thankfully theyfound out right off that nobody was in the house.”

Francis said the homeowner’s son came by the scene and told themnobody had been home at the time the fire started.

In the case of a house fire, a homeowner can request aninvestigation if they believe one is needed, but Francis said sofar there had been no request.

“If it’s questionable or if there’s any indication of arson orfoul play, they can request one, but it didn’t look to besuspicious,” he said. “It was an old house that’s been there awhile. The wiring is as old as the house, so it’s just one of thosethings.”