(MOBILE, Ala.) - Mobile Fire Department investigators are trying to find the cause of fire at a home on Miami Street that, residents said, was broken into the night before.
A fire department spokesperson said the blaze was reported at 8:49 a.m. Wednesday. The house is located across the street from the City of Mobile Public Works Department, where a fire department district chief noticed smoke rising from the home. The district chief was the first to respond to the blaze.
The house was a total loss, but no injuries were reported. The family was not at home when the fire started. The residents told fire investigators that the house had been broken into Tuesday, and they were too afraid to stay there.
A man who lives next door, who calls himself Jeff, said he realized the home was on fire after the power went out at his home.
"I was still in the bed asleep," Jeff said. "I just happened to find out that our power went out, and when the power went out I came and looked out my window to see all the firetrucks and everything out here. A power line snapped loose, and fire was just jumping everywhere, and I was hoping, trying to make sure it didn't hit my line."
Jeff said he has lived there for 13 years, and knew the family well. However, he didn't know that their house had been broken into.
"When I saw the police car out there that's when I found out that somebody had broken into their home," Jeff said.
Jeff added the fact that the family was staying away from their home might have saved their lives.
"Believe me, the way that fire went down I don't think they would have got out of there," Jeff said.
Mobile Fire Officials said the fire is still under investigation. A spokesperson said they are still looking into several scenarios that led to the blaze, and whether the break in might be linked to the fire.
