Neighbors help put out Orcutt mobile-home fire

Quick response by residents and park workers helped firefighters extinguish a mobile home fire Thursday morning at Orcutt Ranch Estates on West Clark Avenue.

“I was talking to residents a few spaces down when we noticed the smoke engulfing the home, so we grabbed as many hoses as possible,” said park manager Jeremy Kemlo.

Kemlo, 31, is a former firefighter from Wisconsin, and has managed the park for the last eight years.

“We knocked in some of the windows, I soaked a rag and went inside to see if there was anyone in the residence, but it was clear,” Kemlo said. “My workers, David and Kenny, were just arriving and I told them to grab some hoses. Residents were eager to help out.”

Ray Eyerly, 75, who lives across the way from the home, also helped fight the flames with his garden hose.

“There was a pounding on my door when Jeremy yelled for me to come help. I was just waking up, and saw the smoke pouring out of the home,” Eyerly said, “I'm always concerned about fire because these units are so old. The wood and insulation is so dry, and you just never know,”

Kevin McClanahan, 48, who is helping care for his elderly mother, said that the sound of breaking glass woke him up, and that he looked out to see a black plume of smoke.

“Whomever lives there I'm sure it's a scary experience,” McClanahan said. “It could happen to anyone. Hopefully their home isn't damaged too much.”

Tracy Kemlo, Jeremy's wife and office manager, said that the house would not be livable for the time being.

Firefighters from Station 21 arrived at the mobile home at 355 W. Clark Ave. shortly after 8 a.m. to find “heavy smoke pouring out of the windows,” said firefighter Damien Manuele.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. There were no injuries reported.

Most of the damage was contained to the kitchen area, but the structure has major smoke damage, Manuele said. Nearby mobile homes weren't damaged.

The Red Cross was contacted to help with the resident's living situation and provide assistance, according to fire Capt. Eli Iskow

“I think we were lucky that we were standing outside and reacted quickly, because within another 10 minutes it would have been completely destroyed,” Kemlo said.

July 4, 2008