Mobile home destroyed Mother, 2 sons escape blaze
BUFFALO TWP — An early morning fire chased a woman and her two adult sons out of their mobile home today.
No one was hurt but the older trailer home on Conrad Lane was destroyed, authorities said.
The state police fire marshal was notified but the blaze was not considered suspicious, said Chief Bill George of the Sarver Volunteer Fire Company.
A clogged clothes dryer vent is a possible cause, fire officials said.
Owner Dawn Wimer and her sons were still up about 2:40 a.m. when they noticed smoke coming from the wall around the dryer vent pipe. The occupants called 911 and got out safely.
A Sarver fire crew was first there and found thick smoke inside the trailer just west of Thompson Road.
Firefighters made quick entry but when the fire flashed over, they were forced out by the sudden flames.
After repositioning, the crew went back inside and had the fire under control in about five minutes, George said.
A tanker shuttle supplied water to the scene where two dozen firefighters battled the blaze. Assisting the Sarver VFC were firefighters from Buffalo Township and Saxonburg.
The property was considered a total loss but a damage estimate was not immediately available. Wimer had no insurance.
George said she and her children are staying with another of her sons nearby.
Fire crews were back at their stations about 5:30 a.m.
