Fire Destroys Mayor's Home

Savannah, GA (December 18, 2009) - Savannah Mayor Otis S. Johnson described himself as very fortunate tonight after a fire broke out in his south Savannah home.

The Mayor was resting prior to attending a function at the Cathedral of St.
John The Baptist when flames erupted near a closet housing the air handler for the home's HVAC system.

The Mayor was alerted to the fire by a companion and both were able to escape the blaze unharmed.

Savannah Fire and Emergency Services firefighters were dispatched to the Mayor's house at 111 Early St. at 5:37 pm after SFES communications personnel received a fire alarm call through ADT.

Responding firefighters arrived at the one-story brick house, west of Habersham St., to find heavy smoke, and flames mainly in a hallway area adjacent to a living room in the home.

The fire had also extended to the home's attic. Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze and contain the maority of fire damage to the hallway area and a small portion of the attic. Howeverr, there was extensive smoke and water damage to much of the rest of the house, including the attic.

Speaking to media representatives about an hour and a half after the fire, Mayor Johnson said "we were not injured, we're safe, we'll recover."

"We can replace the material things. We'll do the best we can to have happy holidays," he said.

Savannah Fire's Chief Investigator, Fred Anderson, examined the scene and determined the fire did erupt in the closet where the HVAC's air handler is housed. He said items that were stored in the closet, in close proximity to the air handler, apparently overheated and sparked the blaze.

SFES firefighters remind citizens to keep their home's HVAC and other heating systems clear of all combustible materials and to store items away from areas that might create fire hazards.