April 2, 2002

PRESS RELEASE
To: Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer
Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Fire Heavily Damages Downtown Business

A fire that heavily damaged a Shreveport business last night has been officially listed as accidental by fire investigators.

Shreveport firefighters responded to Mauldin Cabinets in the 900 block of Grimmett Drive at 9:20 p.m. after a 911 call received from a cell phone said the building was on fire. When crews from the department’s near by Market Street station arrived, they found the brick and metal building billowing smoke and shooting flames from the front of the structure.

No one was at the business at the time of the fire and firefighters were forced to break into the building to reach the fire. Once inside, fire crews found the main source of the fire was confined to the office area. After30 minutes of firefighting, at 9:50 p.m., District Chief Mike Echols officially listed the fire as under control.

The business, that produced custom made wooden cabinets, sustained heavy fire damage to the entire office area of their building. Additionally, some fire and smoke damage reached the back shop area. Fire investigators listed the cause of the fire as accidental and electrical in nature. No injuries were reported. ###