Mobile fire investigators are seeking a person of interest after a house fire on Carter Avenue that authorities believe was intentionally set. The blaze broke out on a Friday afternoon at a single-story wood-frame home located between Jesse and Main streets.
Firefighters responding to the scene around 3 p.m. found flames coming from the windows of the home. No injuries were reported. Investigators with Mobile Fire-Rescue Department said the circumstances surrounding the fire pointed to arson, and they wanted to speak with a man who reportedly had an argument with his uncle, the homeowner, prior to the blaze.
A department spokesman said fire investigators believed the individual sought might have information relevant to the case. Authorities asked residents with any information about his whereabouts to contact Mobile Fire-Rescue Department investigators.
The fire is one of several suspicious blazes that Mobile Fire-Rescue and city police have investigated in recent months as arson cases in the city drew increased scrutiny from local law enforcement. Investigators have said that establishing a motive and a timeline in cases involving family disputes can be critical to determining whether a fire was accidental or deliberately set.
Neighbors along Carter Avenue reported hearing raised voices at the home in the hours before smoke and flames were spotted, though fire officials cautioned that the investigation remained open and no charges had been filed at the time. Investigators continued to process the scene for physical evidence in the days following the fire.
Anyone with information about the case was urged to contact Mobile Fire-Rescue Department’s investigative unit. Arson investigations of this kind typically involve coordination between fire marshals and city police, particularly when a dispute between family members appears to precede the incident.
House fires tied to domestic disputes remain a persistent concern for public safety officials in Mobile, who have repeatedly urged residents to report threats or property damage stemming from family conflicts before they escalate. Fire officials noted that intentionally set fires pose elevated risks not only to the property involved but to neighboring homes and to firefighters responding to the scene.
The investigation into the Carter Avenue fire remained active, with authorities continuing to ask for the public’s help identifying the person of interest and establishing what happened in the moments before the fire broke out.