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Viewers Help Evacuee Turned Victim
By Jessica Taloney Reporter
Published: Fri, April 25, 2008 - 4:45 pm
Jessica Taloney
Len Watkins and his wife spent the last two years remodeling the house on General Lee Avenue near Three Notch Road, but all their work went up in flames around 2:30 Friday morning.
Investigators say the fire started in the couple's 2007 Saturn Relay minivan, which was parked in the carport. Flames quickly spread to the house through the attic.
"It was unbelievable," said Robert Hillman, the Watkins' son who lives just two houses away. "I literally felt the heat from the flames across the street," he said.
Mobile County Spokesman Steve Huffman says faulty wiring or an electrical short near the car battery is to blame. News Five's Jessica Taloney called a local dealership, but learned there are no related recall bulletins for the Watkins' vehicle. There is a safety warning involving after-market fuses, but the Watkins say the only work they've had done on the van was done by General Motors professionals. In fact, the van was serviced at the dealership Thursday.
An insurance adjuster is expected to evaluate the damage early next week.
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