Pair hurt in mobile home fire

Wed., June 27, 2007

By Amy Cannata amyc@spokesman.com

An early morning fire destroyed a couple’s north Spokane mobile home Tuesday, injuring both and killing their cat.

Fire crews contained the blaze to the one trailer, saving others in the mobile home park at Lyons Avenue and Nevada Street.

The couple was awakened by a smoke detector, and found the mobile home on fire, Spokane Assistant Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said.

The husband had to help his wife out of the mobile home. Because of her medical condition, she must use oxygen. Both were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and burns caused by the hot gases, Schaeffer said. They were then taken to a hospital.

“Any time people are exposed to this type of atmosphere, they have inhalation injuries,” he explained.

Firefighters were on the scene within five minutes of the call, which came in about 7 a.m. Heavy smoke spread as far south as Wellesley Avenue.

Firefighting efforts were complicated by exploding oxygen tanks inside the mobile home, but the fire was controlled within 20 minutes.

Neighbors said this is the first fire in the mobile home park in more than 20 years.

Fire investigators say the fire was caused by a smoldering cigarette.

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