Fire erupts, leaving rubble and ash

MOBILE, Ala. - A house catches fire overnight, and now investigators are calling on you to help figure out what started the blaze.

It happened at a home on Gill Road, which is off Dauphin Island Parkway.

Fire ripped through the home early Tuesday morning. Charred rubble and ash is all that is left of the family room.

Neighbors said the fire was huge.

"The fire was coming out real high after a power line came down and it started sparkling real bad," said Zakiyyah Smith.

Smith worried the flames would spread to her home.

"Flames were coming real high, then it exploded and we had to move our cars over this way," motioned Smith, away from the burned home.

Smith said a family of three, including a small child, lived in the home.

"She did my hair once, but I didn't really know her," she added.

Fire fighters said no one was home when the fire erupted.

Steve Huffman with Mobile Fire Rescue said the blaze broke out in the den near the front of the house, and spread.

"Right now we are conducting an investigation to determine the cause, or if it was arson. Right now, there is not enough evidence to indicate either way," said Huffman.

Damage is estimated at $40,000.

Anyone with information that may be helpful to Fire Investigators is asked to call the Arson Hotline at 251-208-MFRD (6373).