June 5, 2001

PRESS RELEASE

To: Newsroom

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer

Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Fire Damages Caddo Heights Home

■ Children attempting to light fireworks said to be cause

A fire that appears to have been started by an 8-year-old trying to provide an ignition source for fireworks caused heavy damage to a Caddo Heights home this morning before being extinguished by firefighters. Fire investigators have said that the child and his 12-year-old brother were lighting fireworks outside and were using sticks as an ignition source. The 8-year-old had lit some paper from the home’s stove in an attempt to light more sticks that were outside. As he carried the paper through the house it caught some draperies being used as a partition between the kitchen and the den on fire.

Fire Communications started receiving calls reporting the fire at 4263 Saint Vincent Avenue at 9:55 a.m. As fire crews responded, heavy black smoke from the fire could be seen as far away as downtown. When firefighters arrived, fire was billowing out of the north side of the structure. Initial reports listed the home as vacant but updated information on the scene had the structure as habitated. Fire officials found the only occupants of the home, the two children, outside of the residence when they arrived. The mother, 36-year-old Deloris Brown was at work at the time of the fire.

Firefighters entered the front door of the home and found dense smoke and flames coming from the den of the residence. Extinguishing effort lasted around15 minutes as officials listed the fire as under control at 10:09 a.m. No injuries were reported. ###