Garage fire destroys Brooks' home

RICKY BROOKS points to where he thinks the fire started in his home on Ogden Street. He and his wife Wanda, who is deaf, escaped safely but the house, all his possessions and vehicle are a total loss. The fire was ruled accidental, but preventable, with proper safety precautions.

Fire broke out in the home of Ricky and Wanda Brooks on Ogden Street shortly before 5 p.m. Nov. 30.

Like many tenants, they did not have renter's insurance on their possessions; both escaped with their lives but little else than the clothes they were wearing.

They also lost the vehicle parked in the garage where the fire originated.

Jasper Fire Marshal Stephen Williamson approached the investigation of this fire as he does each fire: methodically.

He reported to the Jasper Newsboy, "I spent most of the afternoon (Dec. 1) on my hands and knees taking layers of debris from around the water heater and the vehicle...

"The cause is ruled accidental, with the water

heater being the ignition source. A combination of factors contributed to the fire: the service door was missing from the water heater, clothing was piled against it and the water heater was not elevated.

"The vehicle appeared to have been leaking gasoline. The vapor from the leaking fuel and the water heater not being elevated alone create a dangerous situation which could have caused the fire.

"The other debris is believed to have caused the initial fire, which allowed the gas vapors to ignite.

"The garage and kitchen areas were heavily damaged by fire and the rest of the house damaged by heat and smoke."

Williamson picked up a smoke detector found on top of a blackened piece of

furniture. Under it was a clean smoke-free circle, showing that the smoke sat there, useless, while the house burned.

Williamson says the fire could have been prevented by having the water heater raised a minimum of 18"off the floor, keeping the area around the water heater clear, and checking vehicles for leaking gasoline or other fluids.