Devastating fires strike mobile homes
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- A bouquet of roses was a somber reminder that someone is gone, a life lost and a community in mourning.
Ramon Novoa knew the man.
"I used to see him go out," said Novoa. "He could barely walk."
Novoa lives down the road from the rubble. His walk home was lined with mobile homes just like the ones that have burned this week and forever changed the lives of at least two families.
Springfield Fire Marshal Alan Gerard said one characteristic that helps fuel a fire in a manufactured home is age.
Older models were built with metal roofs. If something catches fire inside, the heat has no way to escape.
"This was a very hot fire on a very hot day with a lot of fuel," said Gerard.
The good news is newer models are built with less flammable materials.
KVAL News asked Gerard what people who live in mobile homes can do to prevent fire. He advises people to do the same thing you would do in any other home.
Make sure your appliances are hooked up properly. Gerard said the man who died had lots of fans, heaters and stereo equipment all hooked into a power strip in one area of the house.
Also, keep out the clutter and get rid of combustible items, especially around plugs and power strips.
And always make sure your smoke detectors work.
Springfield Fire officials said mobile homes are never inspected by the fire marshal unless a resident requests one.
