Fire destroys trailer; no injuries reported
CENTER TWP — No one was home when a trailer was destroyed by fire Sunday afternoon on Beacon Lane.
One of the trailer's residents said the family had left about an hour before the fire broke out at 105 Beacon Lane.
Multiple fire departments responded to the call that was issued around 1:35 p.m. by Butler County 911 dispatchers.
“It was fully involved with flames blowing out both sides,” said Unionville Assistant Fire Chief Nathan Wulff.
Despite the efforts of firefighters and about 1,500 gallons of water, the trailer could not be saved. Wulff said the home was considered a total loss.
Wulff said EMS were first to arrive on scene, and they confirmed it was a working structure fire.
“It was about 10 minutes from us getting on scene to having the fire under control,” Wulff said.
EMS also helped firefighters keep cool on a hot summer afternoon that saw temperatures in the high 80s. Many firefighters could be seen exiting the trailer and dropping their gear, replacing it with cool, dampened clothes.
“Butler Ambulance sent a supervisor out with water and wet towels,” Wulff said. “They're great. It's nice, especially when dealing with these temperatures.”
“Trailers are tough, it just shoots from one end to the other,” he said.
As crews continued to scout the smoldering skeleton of the home for hotspots, the family that lived there looked on in shock.
Peter Crawford, a resident of the home, said he lives there with his fiancee, two children and a couple of other family members.
“We left an hour before,” he said.
Though no one was home at the time, Crawford said one cat was in the trailer. He said it was young and lucky.
“A neighbor said it got out the back door,” he said.
Crawford said the home was not insured, and he and his family likely will look to American Red Cross for help.
A state police fire marshal has been called to investigate the origin and cause of the blaze.
