A fire Tuesday morning at a mobile home on Toad Road left a family homeless and an adult and a child with minor burns.
Central dispatch received the call at 3:14 a.m. of a fire in a trailer park.
County Fire Chief Donny Green told WJLE that Brandon Tramel was the owner of the mobile home but that it was being rented by Amanda Duke.
The initial call to 911 was that children may still be inside the structure but a few minutes later it was reported that everyone inside got out. However, an adult and a child suffered burns “Duke, three other adults, and four children ages 6 to 16 were in the residence at the time of the fire and narrowly escaped,” said Chief Green. “One of the adults suffered first and third degree burns and one of the children had first degree burns on his arm and hand from the fire. The family also lost at least two dogs inside the home,” added Chief Green.
There were no smoke alarms installed inside the residence.
Members of the Liberty, Main Station, and Short Mountain Highway Stations of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department responded along with the tanker and equipment truck. DeKalb EMS and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department were also on the scene.
Chief Green said firefighters could not save the structure. “When the fire department arrived, approximately 75% of the mobile home and a 2005 Chevrolet 4 X 4 pickup truck were fully involved in flames. The rear porch area of another mobile home in front of the burning structure was also beginning to catch fire,” he said.
“Despite the challenges posed by the extremely cold temperatures, firefighters arrived on the scene within six minutes from the time of dispatch and quickly took action to save the adjacent mobile home that had already begun to burn on the rear porch eave,” Chief Green continued.
“The mobile home, where the fire originated, and pickup truck were a complete loss. The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time and is being investigated,” he added.
“DeKalb County’s American Red Cross Chapter representatives assisted at the scene and arranged immediate shelter, clothing, and food for the family,” Chief Green concluded.