Deadly fire's origin still unknown

RUSSELLVILLE - Four state, local and federal agencies are combining expertise to determine what caused the house fire Saturday that killed a 6-year-old Russellville boy.

Investigators with the Alabama Fire Marshal's Office, Russellville fire, Russellville police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were at the residence Tuesday for several hours, as the family and the community grieved the death of Mason Scott.

Scott was killed in the fire that was reported at 2:31 a.m. Saturday.

"We started the service Sunday morning with a prayer for the family, and I'm sure they've been on the hearts and minds of everyone, not only at our church, but the entire community," said David Hester, who attends church with the Scotts at Calvary Baptist Church in Russellville. "This has kind of shocked us all."

The funeral service will be today at the church.

"Anytime a child's life is lost, it's tragic and it upsets the community," Hester said. "That was evident at church Sunday and over the last couple of days. You could see the hurt on the faces of the people who know the family."

Investigators have been working at the residence at 180 Signore Drive since Saturday morning. On Tuesday afternoon, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms joined the investigation.

"We've been able to decide what room the fire started, but not the exact location or how it started," Russellville Fire Chief Joe Mansell said.

Authorities said the fire started in Mason Scott's room, which is in the front part of the house.

Scott, along with his mother and 4-year-old brother, were apparently asleep inside the house when the fire began, authorities said.

Scott's mother and brother, who were in another bedroom, got out of the house through a back window. His father was out of town.

Mansell said the additional investigators were called in to help pinpoint the origin.

"We're just doing anything and everything we can at this point to find out what happened," Mansell said. "We want to be able to tell the parents exactly what happened.

"It's a slow process, but that's our ultimate goal, and that's why we've asked for the extra help."

State Fire Marshal Ed Paulk said a dog, used in finding origins of fires, was brought in from Talladega and used at the scene.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, more than 4,000 Americans die each year in fires and approximately 20,000 are injured. Department officials said senior citizens age 65 and over, and children under the age of five are at the greatest risk of death from fire.

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.