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Family loses home in fire
By Carol Broeder/Arizona Range News
A Willcox-area home was destroyed by fire Thursday afternoon.
Albert Miller, who was out shopping, returned home at about 12:27 p.m. to find smoke coming out of the north window of his home, said Carol Capas, spokeswoman for the Cochise County Sheriff's Department.
Miller grabbed the water hose and tried to put it out, but when the fire got worse, he called 9-1-1, she said.
His 1978 singlewide mobile home, in the 3800 block of North Wadsworth off Packing Plant Road, was a total loss.
"No one was injured as the owner, wife, and children were all away when the fire started," Capas said.
The fire is still under investigation, but Capas said it was possibly started by a space heater.
There were no signs of foul play, she said.
Commander AV Reid, of the Willcox Rural Fire Department, said that he had a fire truck rolling within two minutes after they got the call, but the mobile home was fully engulfed by the time they arrived.
He said that Miller opened the door, and "the oxygen hit it (the fire) and it was gone."
"I can't stress enough -- don't open that door unless there's somebody in there," said Reid, explaining that once you do, "you give the fire the oxygen it needs."
An older mobile home tends to have "old dried out paneling that goes up like kindling," he said.
"A normal wood structure takes about 17 minutes to burn. A trailer house takes about half that time," said Reid, adding that even some newer mobile homes in the county have been saved when occupants "leave the doors shut."
Reid said that the Salvation Army was on scene Thursday afternoon to talk with the Millers.
Penney Bell said that the family had received help from the Red Cross.
The Willcox High School Junior Class voted to donate part of its class funds to Iza Magana, who lost her possessions in the fire.
Teachers and staff also plan to take up a collection for the family during its Christmas party Friday, said WHS Counselor Victoria Singer.
Albert Miller, who was out shopping, returned home at about 12:27 p.m. to find smoke coming out of the north window of his home, said Carol Capas, spokeswoman for the Cochise County Sheriff's Department.
Miller grabbed the water hose and tried to put it out, but when the fire got worse, he called 9-1-1, she said.
His 1978 singlewide mobile home, in the 3800 block of North Wadsworth off Packing Plant Road, was a total loss.
"No one was injured as the owner, wife, and children were all away when the fire started," Capas said.
The fire is still under investigation, but Capas said it was possibly started by a space heater.
There were no signs of foul play, she said.
Commander AV Reid, of the Willcox Rural Fire Department, said that he had a fire truck rolling within two minutes after they got the call, but the mobile home was fully engulfed by the time they arrived.
He said that Miller opened the door, and "the oxygen hit it (the fire) and it was gone."
"I can't stress enough -- don't open that door unless there's somebody in there," said Reid, explaining that once you do, "you give the fire the oxygen it needs."
An older mobile home tends to have "old dried out paneling that goes up like kindling," he said.
"A normal wood structure takes about 17 minutes to burn. A trailer house takes about half that time," said Reid, adding that even some newer mobile homes in the county have been saved when occupants "leave the doors shut."
Reid said that the Salvation Army was on scene Thursday afternoon to talk with the Millers.
Penney Bell said that the family had received help from the Red Cross.
The Willcox High School Junior Class voted to donate part of its class funds to Iza Magana, who lost her possessions in the fire.
Teachers and staff also plan to take up a collection for the family during its Christmas party Friday, said WHS Counselor Victoria Singer.
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