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Associated Press - December 23, 2009 1:44 PM ET
MOBILE, Ala. (AP) - Authorities say a Mobile man who died in a house fire had so much junk piled inside the residence he couldn't get out.
Fire officials say 87-year-old Walter L. Allen hoarded items inside his small home, and the practice apparently contributed to his death late Tuesday.
Fire Department spokesman Steve Huffman said authorities received a call about a fire but had difficulty getting onto Allen's property because it was covered with junk. Allen said the inside of the house was so packed with papers and other items that Allen couldn't get out, and firefighters had a hard time getting in.
Authorities haven't determined a cause of the blaze, but it appears accidental. The man apparently died of smoke inhalation.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
