Fire marshall investigating blaze
Flomaton firefighters attack the roof of burning house early Saturday
A neighbor's dog started barking about 4 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 17 and the neighbor got up to see what was going on and saw the glow of the fire and dialed 911.
When Fire Chief Steve Stanton arrived on scene at 75 Catherine St., he found a fully involved structure and the house next door on fire also. Homeowners James Rollins and Jewel Warrick, boyfriend and girlfriend, were not there and both their vehicles were gone. A Be On the Look Out was put out for them by Flomaton law enforcement.
"When Station 32 arrived, they did an interior attack, entering through the back door," said Stanton. "When Century Fire arrived, they began extinguishing the second structure and once it was out, they helped Flomaton Fire Department put out the first blaze."
Stanton said that it took more than two hours for firefighters from Flomaton, Friendship, Century, Lambeth and Pineview Fire Departments to completely extinguish the fire. Escambia County (Ala.) EMS and Flomaton Police Department assisted.
Later that morning, about 10 a.m., Rollins drove back up to the house and law enforcement later made contact with Warrick in Jay. Neither homeowner was aware of the fire.
Once police determined both were safe, the police investigation ended and the case was turned over to the fire marshall who is investigating the fire as arson.
According to Stanton, Alabama Fire Marshall Mike Talley confirmed Tuesday the fire was a case of arson and is still under investigation.
