Fire destroys mobile home
A Lecompton family's mobile home is a total loss tonight after an electrical fire earlier today. Enlarge video
Fire destroys Lecompton mobile home
Fire crews work to extinguish a fire at a mobile home Monday in Lecompton. Enlarge video
Fire consumes a mobile home at 619 Whitfield in Lecompton.
Lecompton — An electrical fire destroyed a Lecompton mobile home Monday morning.
Despite the damage, firefighters and residents were grateful no one was injured.
“No one was home at the time, so we lucked out there. It’s a total loss,” said H. Wayne Riley, chief of Lecompton Fire and EMS.
Firefighters were able to get the blaze under control after it was reported about 11 a.m., and they evacuated residents of nearby homes to keep them away from heavy smoke. No other buildings at the Mobile Lodge of Lecompton, 619 Whitfield St., sustained damage, Riley said.
“(The fire departments) that were involved, they did a wonderful job,” said the park’s manager Lana Keever. “It could have been a lot worse with the wind blowing. Thank God everybody was safe.”
Riley said investigators with the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s office determined an electrical short in a back bedroom caused the destructive fire.
The Rev. Kenneth Baker, of Lecompton United Methodist Church, heard about the fire and rushed to the scene to check on residents there. He said his church has also offered assistance to the family of three who lived there.
The Douglas County Chapter of the American Red Cross was helping with food and clothing costs, executive director Jane Blocher said. The agency also setup an area to assist firefighters from Kanwaka, Wakarusa and Kentucky townships in addition to Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical, as they fought the blaze.
The Red Cross could also assist with short-term housing. But Riley said the residents also had options to stay with other family members in the area, and they would need assistance because they did not have insurance.
Keever said residents and several agencies were working on ways to donate food, clothing and household items to the family.
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countrygirl (anonymous) says…
Not that there's ever a good time for something like this, but it really sucks at the holidays. Hope all got out Ok.
bndairdundat (anonymous) says…
Wow - I logged on, read this headline, looked out the window to the west and see smoke! Stepped outside and heard sirens in the distance! Great to see quick response by Fire dept., Douglas County Sheriff's and Medical Responders, and of course LJW in our little corner of the county. Thank you all, hope everyone is safe.
micah6_8 (anonymous) says…
I live nearby and checked at the scene, as well as with the Trailer Park manager - no one was at home, no one was hurt.
Buggie7 (anonymous) says…
My thoughts go to the person/family that was living there. Fires are such a devastating loss.
Lillo_94 (anonymous) says…
I live nearby and heard about the fire here a few days after it happened. My friend and I were talking on the phone and she had said that she watched a trailer burn down in Lecompton and said that she hoped nobody she knew lived there. During lunch one day at school, one of my other friends who was very close to the family, told me who's house burnt down. It's bad enough hearing about it happening to someone nearby, but when you actually know the person and go to school with them every day, it just makes it that much harder. I'm just glad no one was hurt.