Published: June 04, 2008 09:54 pm            

Officials still investigating apartment fire

By Patrick McCreless

PATRICKM@CULLMANTIMES.COM

Officials are still investigating the circumstances surrounding a fire that gutted a Dodge City apartment complex and put one man in the hospital Monday.

“We have not yet determined it to be arson or an accidental fire,” said Chief Deputy Tony Quick of the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office. “We’re still trying to locate some people who might have some pertinent information on the fire.”

Quick said sheriff’s investigators are coordinating their efforts with state fire marshals and should make a determination on the fire sometime next week.

Quick said the cause of the fire has not yet been determined mainly due to the amount of damage the apartment sustained.

“There was not a lot of evidence collected at the scene that would help determine if it was arson or not,” Quick said.

Quick noted however that investigators determined the fire started in an area near where the one victim was located.

The victim was identified as 49-year-old Randy Dale Hann. He was transported to UAB Hospital’s trauma center, where he is currently in critical condition.

According to the Dodge City Fire and Rescue report, the fire began at approximately 2:43 a.m. on the right side of the building and spread quickly to the rest of the apartments in the one-story complex. Sheriff’s reports indicate the blaze damaged or destroyed eight apartments. The damage was estimated at $100,000.

        

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