The fire occurred at 1651 Duval Street and was reported at approximately 11:23 p.m. Firefighters arrived at approximately 11:28 p.m. and reported heavy fire showing from the one-story, wood frame structure.
Several witnesses approached the firefighters pointing toward the rear of the house saying "He is in the back and he is gone".
Firefighters forced entry and found the victim, Abe Nettles, Sr., near the origin of the fire where he had already succumbed to his injuries.
The fire appears to have originated in an enclosed porch at the rear of the structure. The fire extended throughout the porch and covered patio area. There were varying degrees of smoke and heat damage throughout the structure.
Abe Nettles, Jr., 59, told Mobile Fire Investigators something woke him up and he saw the fire toward the rear of the house and had to break a window out toward the front to escape. Nettles also told investigators that his sister, who lives nearby, attempted to open the burglar bars at the rear of the structure to save their father but was unable to get them open and was pushed back by the flames and smoke.
Witnesses reported hearing the elder Nettles calling for help.
There were no other injuries reported and the fire caused an estimated $20 thousand in damage. Engines 8, 9, 11, 16, truck 24, rescue 24 and District Chief Martin Stanley responded to the fire.
