August 24th, 2010
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Author: Published: Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 7:31 PM Updated: Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 7:31 PM
MOBILE, Ala. — Seven-year-old Brianna Prince, described by her Fonde Elementary School teachers as a “a sweet, ambitious little girl,” was killed late Monday night in a west Mobile apartment fire that injured three others.
Mobile Fire-Rescue Department officials released little new information on the blaze Tuesday.
The blaze began about 11:10 p.m. in an apartment at 314-B Seabreeze Court, inside the Berkshire apartment complex. Neighbors at the scene told a Press-Register reporter that the fire began in an upstairs bedroom, where Prince was later found. They said at the time the person who died was an infant.
In an e-mail sent by Mobile County Public School System spokeswoman Nancy Pierce, teachers identified Prince by name and said the young girl “captured the hearts of many. She was eager to learn and had quite a dramatic flair.”
It continued, “Rest in peace, Brianna, We love you and will miss you.”
Prince had just begun first grade at Fonde Elementary School, Pierce said.
Mobile Fire-Rescue spokesman Shaun Hicks said two adults and another child injured in the blaze were transported to Spring Hill Medical Center for treatment, but he declined to describe the extent of their injuries.
Fire officials declined to release the victims’ names, ages, sex and relationship to Prince. However, Hicks said the victims lived in the apartment with Prince.
Hicks said investigators were working Tuesday to determine the cause of the fire.
Brandon Osburn, a student at the University of South Alabama, was in a nearby apartment visiting friends on his off day from his job at a Dollar General on Moffett Road when the fire broke out.
Osburn said he heard windows breaking and saw heavy smoke coming from the upstairs of the apartment near where he was visiting. He said he tried to climb up to a roof extending over the porch and got a fire extinguisher to try to get in to save the girl.
“But it was so hot; there was smoke and fire everywhere,” Osburn said. “I used up everything in the fire extinguisher. When the fire department got here, they told me to get out, because I didn’t have the proper equipment. I tried my best to save that baby, but I couldn’t.”
He said another man also tried to rescue the child, but the flames made it impossible for him as well.
Tonya Shelton, another neighbor, said someone knocked on her door and told her of the fire in the building near hers.
“Two men tried to save her, but heavy smoke was coming out of the windows. Clutching her own 1-year-old son as she watched the investigation unfold, she said, “It is such a tragedy and it’s very sad.”
A fund has been set up in Prince’s memory at RBC Bank branches, according to Pierce. Anyone wishing to donate, or with questions, should contact the nearest RBC bank.
(This report was written by Press-Register Staff Reporters Jillian Kramer and Mark R. Kent.)
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