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Mobile home blaze displaces family of 5
By Greg Cima
gcima@pantagraph.com
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BLOOMINGTON — Fire destroyed the contents of a mobile home of a family of five Tuesday afternoon in south Bloomington.

Nobody was injured, and the fire was extinguished in less than 30 minutes at 2330 24th St., said Assistant Fire Chief Gary Sushka. Two cats died in the fire, he said.

Members of the American Red Cross of the Heartland were at the scene. Most of the interior was destroyed by flames, and the rest sustained heavy smoke damage, Sushka said.

Scott Vogel, director of public support for the local Red Cross chapter, said his organization was providing the family with food, clothing and shelter. No other information was immediately available.

The first firefighters tried to fight the flames inside, but were chased out of the mobile home, Sushka said.

Eighteen firefighters rotated at the scene because of the heat outside and inside the home, Sushka said. Firefighters spent 10 to 15 minutes fighting the fire before being replaced and spending at least 10 minutes in a cooling area, where their vital signs were checked and they had a fan and water, he said.

A shed a few feet north of the mobile home had heavy fire damage to its south side and roof. Firefighters were able to stop the flames from spreading to another mobile home about 15 feet north of the first home, Sushka said.

One ambulance overheated and was towed from the scene, the assistant chief said.

Take a look
A Bloomington firefighter checks for hot spots in the back of a mobile home Tuesday afternoon. Angie Pippin was at home with her three young children when they smelled something in the mobile home in Southgate Estates. (Pantagraph/LORI ANN COOK) August, 28, 2007)
A Bloomington firefighter checks for hot spots in the back of a mobile home Tuesday afternoon. Angie Pippin was at home with her three young children when they smelled something in the mobile home in Southgate Estates. (Pantagraph/LORI ANN COOK) August, 28, 2007)
Bloomington Fire Department Assistant Chief Gary Sushka talks to William Deevers and Angie Pippin, renters of the mobile home in Southgate Estates. (Pantagraph/LORI ANN COOK) August, 28, 2007)
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Reader comments on this story - 9 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

me wrote on Aug 30, 2007 4:22 PM:

" if you rent your landlord should make you have renter's insurance. if you have a cell phone ,you can get ins. cheap. I known someone that get's less than 500.a month but has renters ins. everyone should have it. "

for the family of the home wrote on Aug 29, 2007 7:56 PM:

" I am praying for u and your family i know how hard its to get back on to your feet with little children .. I have been asking around for u and your children some clothes .. I pray that u get the help u need .. "

just me wrote on Aug 29, 2007 4:51 PM:

" i live near by and it makes me question the safety of my own home. most of the fire hydrantes are taged "out of order" and have been for many months now. even the one right across the street from this home is taged "

u know second fire wrote on Aug 29, 2007 2:13 PM:

" You know not every fire has to be b/c of arson. it was hot out and anything could be the cause. just b/c someone says this is there 2nd fire dont mean someone started it. "

Trailers are replaceable~ wrote on Aug 29, 2007 2:04 PM:

" people are not. Glad to hear all is well, so sorry about the cats :( "

Second Fire? wrote on Aug 29, 2007 11:15 AM:

" If this is indeed the second fire for this family...is anyone questioning why so many fires within such a short time frame? Granted this is an unfortunate situation for any family...but maybe they should be investigated thoroughly to dispell rumors of arson? "

Neighbor... wrote on Aug 29, 2007 8:24 AM:

" This is the second fire this family has been thru. From what has been said, it was an a/c that started it. I am glad everyone got out ok. "

Me wrote on Aug 29, 2007 7:37 AM:

" I think this is the same family that lost their previous trailer in a fire last summer. I hope everything turns out ok for them. "

Lady wrote on Aug 28, 2007 11:13 PM:

" Pray all is well for the family. Trailers should be inspected on a regular basis for safety reasons. I believe this is done to apartments. Fire can happen so fast. "
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