A family was displaced Wednesday night after a fire broke out at a home in Mobile’s Crichton community, on the city’s north side.
Mobile Fire-Rescue crews were called to the 9 p.m. blaze on Union Avenue, a residential street tucked between Spring Hill and Old Shell Road. Neighbors said they noticed smoke rising from the home and quickly alerted others nearby before firefighters arrived.
Several children were seen standing outside the house as crews worked to knock down the flames. No injuries were reported among the residents or the firefighters who responded, though the family is now without a place to call home while the damage is assessed.
Investigators believe the fire originated in the kitchen, though the exact cause remains under review. Crews on scene said thick smoke complicated efforts to reach the source of the flames, slowing the response as firefighters worked room to room to keep the fire from spreading further through the structure.
The Crichton neighborhood is one of several close-knit communities on Mobile’s north side, and residents there have a history of rallying around neighbors following house fires and other emergencies. Fire officials continue to encourage homeowners across Mobile County to test smoke alarms regularly and keep a close eye on stovetops and other kitchen appliances, since cooking-related incidents remain among the most common causes of residential fires.
No further details on the extent of the damage or the family’s immediate needs were available as of Wednesday night. This story may be updated as more information becomes available.