November 11, 2001

PRESS RELEASE

To: Newsroom

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer

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

Elderly Woman Narrowly Escapes Hollywood Fire

Seventy-two-year-old Inez Brown was sleeping in her bed this morning when she said she woke to the smell of smoke and then saw flames consuming her Hollywood home’s kitchen stove.

Brown said she got to her feet and was forced to go through the fire in the kitchen in order to get out of the three bedroom brick home. "I had to walk right by the fire and stove to get out," said Brown. The fire, at 5125 Carl Terrace, was called into 911 at 8:49 a.m. by a neighbor.

When firefighters arrived on the scene at 8:52 a.m., black smoke could be seen coming from the windows and eaves of the residence. Upon entering the home, fire crews were able to confine the fire to the kitchen area and stop it from breaking through the ceiling and into the attic. Officials listed the fire under control just after 9:00 a.m.

Fire investigators are looking into the cause of the blaze. However, Brown told fire officials that her daughter, Bonnie Webbs, 44, had been using the stove to cook breakfast and had fallen asleep. No injuries were reported. The home did not have any smoke detectors. The fire department will make sure it has one before they leave today. ###