By Daniel L. Bamberg
Daniel@Centrevillepress.com
On top of everything going on at Shady Oaks Estates in West Blocton, a fire at trailer #18 has brought up more questions about what several residents have labeled “negligence” on the part of the property owner.
“Thankfully this happened in the morning while my children and I were gone,” said Gerald Davis of West Blocton “It could easily have happened last night.” On Friday, February 26th the trailer he was renting caught fire consuming nearly everything they owned, including the family dog, Daisy.
Davis, an Assistant Manager for Express Oil Change was at work when the blaze occurred. His two daughters who live with him were attending school.
Greenpond Fire Department along with West Blocton Fire Department responded to the call, which came in at approximately 9:30 a.m. According to GFD Lieutenant Ben Rawls it was too late to save the trailer once they arrived. Both fire departments were however able to stop the fire from spreading to adjacent lots.
A man referred to as “Kenny” is apparently the maintenance man used by the trailer park. This is according to Davis, Betty McRee and other residents of Shady Oaks. “We have been told by numerous people who live here (in the park) that Kenny is not a certified electrician and that he takes dangerous short cuts,” said Davis’ mother, McRee.
Davis explained, “Kenny” was working on the wiring in the kitchen the night before the fire. According to Davis firefighters told him they believed the fire occurred in the kitchen. Rawls stated he was going to rule the cause as “undetermined” in his report.
A state fire investigator was originally called to the scene. Some time later, Rawls stated, “The investigator just called me and told me there did not appear to be any criminal activity so he’s not coming to investigate.” According to the Code of Alabama Section 36-19-5; “The assistants to the Fire Marshal shall investigate the cause, origin and circumstance of every fire occurring in any municipality or place in this state by which property has been destroyed or damaged, to determine, so far as it is possible, whether the fire was the result of carelessness or design. Such investigation shall be begun immediately upon the occurrence of the fire by the assistant in whose territory such fire has occurred; and, if it appears to the officer making the investigation that such fire is of suspicious origin, the Fire Marshal shall be immediately notified of such fact.”
State Fire Marshal Edward Paulk was notified with questions as to why the investigator did not come to the scene. He was also read Section 36-19-5 in Code of Alabama. “We have 20 investigators and our jurisdiction is statewide. There are over 1,000 fire departments in Alabama – because of this we must prioritize our calls. Those of highest priority involve death or destruction of public property,” explained Paulk. “In this case there didn’t appear to be any criminal activity. We were informed by the firefighters that it was of electrical origin, and so there was no reason to stop everything to get out there,” Paulk further explained.
Rawls, had informed the press that the cause and origin were undetermined. According the State Fire Marshal, it had been determined of electrical origin. This contradiction was relayed to Paulk who suggested there was a difference in what could be proven in a court of law and be determined by a firefighter at a scene. In so many words he explained that “undetermined” doesn’t necessarily imply there isn’t a determined origin.
Paulk was informed of the suggestion that an uncertified electrician had worked on the wiring in the kitchen the previous evening. “If that is true then that is a violation of State Law,” Paulk stated.
Finally Paulk was asked if the “busy investigator” was working a fire currently, or if there was something pressing which kept him from investigating the situation at Shady Oaks. “I don’t know what he is doing today but I assure you he is working and is busy. Investigations involve more than just going to a fire,” Paulk responded.
McRee was watching Davis’ children the night before the fire, while “Kenny” was working on the wiring. According to her he was drinking Busch beer while performing the electrical work. “Just before he left I told him I smelled wire burning, but his wife (who was with him) said she didn’t smell anything and that was it.”
Shady Oaks property owner, Ricky Shaw offered Davis and his children another trailer. “After dealing with all of the problems here in the short amount of time we lived at Shady Oaks, I am leaving. I was moving this weekend anyway. I already have another place. This was only temporary,” said Davis. It was also explained by both Davis and McRee that Shaw had mentioned he would open up a trailer to store any items donated by anyone to help the family. Shaw also contacted the local Red Cross office.
When Shaw was asked about the credentials of the man who worked on the wiring, he replied, “I have nothing to say to you at all, about anything.” According to former resident of Shady Oaks, Tabitha Fenn this was the third fire to occur on the properties in less than two years. Fenn also explained that every fire is believed to be of electrical origin.
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