Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Decatur, AL police and fire departments are investigating a house fire on Brandywine Lane Southeast that began Tuesday after someone burned toilet paper hanging in a tree


DECATUR, AL

Decatur, AL police and fire departments are investigating a house fire on Brandywine Lane Southeast that began Tuesday after someone burned toilet paper hanging in a tree, officials said.


Decatur Fire Chief Tony Grande said someone ignited toilet paper in effort to remove it from the tree, but the burning toilet paper blew onto the roof of the house at 1240 Brandywine Lane S.E.


It appeared the tree had been "rolled" with toilet paper as a prank, he said.


“The wind caught the burning toilet paper, it got on the roof and it burned into the house,” he said.


Grande was unsure if a resident of the home or a visiting family member started the fire.


The house has significant damage as the fire burned through the roof and into the attic, he said.


Investigators were on the scene of the fire late Tuesday afternoon to determine the cause of the fire, he said. The fire was reported just after 1 p.m., he said.


There were no injuries, although Battalion Chief Dusty Cheatham said two dogs were rescued from the residence.


One firefighter was transported to the hospital for heat exhaustion but is recovering well, Grande said.


Firefighters left the scene around 4 p.m., he said.