BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- Birmingham firefighters responding to reports of smoke inside an apartment found a body early Friday, and police said they have opened a homicide investigation
Crews got a call about a fire in an apartment building about 4 a.m., and Battalion Chief Jackie Hicks told news outlets that firefighters found smoke and no visible signs of fire. But flames appeared to have been started in "multiple" places, he said.
Firefighters put out a few hot spots and then found a body in a downstairs unit. Hicks said it was too early to say how the person died or whether the death occurred before or after the fire began, and the victim's identity was immediately clear.
Homicide detectives were interviewing people outside the apartment.