Two children died Wednesday night when fire heavily damaged a mobile home near Morris in rural Jefferson County.
Brandon Cotton, age 9, and William Cotton, age 6, were killed in a fire at their home at 7382 New Castle Road. Their parents, Edward and Carol Cotton, were injured in the fire. The parents were transported to UAB Hospital for treatment.
The children’s mother, who was apparently awakened by a smoke alarm, discovered the fire. The Palmerdale Fire District was notified at 10:43 PM. Two smoke alarms, powered by the electrical system, and three battery powered smoke alarms were located in the home at the time of the fire.
Through examination of the scene and interviews by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the State Fire Marshals Office, the origin of the fire was determined to be the children’s bedroom. The cause of the fire has been determined to be a child playing with a cigarette lighter.