Firefighters' Captain Joe Ladu of Butler Township and Shaun Milkovich, assistant chief at Unionville Volunteer Fire Company, look for hot spots following a fire at 136 Caravan Court in Center Township Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020.

CENTER TWP — A Caravan Court resident who was on his way to work Thursday morning had to make a U-turn after his landlord called him to say his home was on fire.

The older mobile home that was the residence of Joe Lane for 20 years was beyond saving by the time firefighters arrived just a few minutes after being dispatched 8:22 a.m.

Flames shot from the windows and heavy smoke rolled off the home as neighbors gathered to watch firefighters from six departments battle the blaze.

“It's the first fire we've had in the 48 years I've owned it,” said Caravan Court owner Larry Soose.The mobile home park is off Route 8 just south of the Unionville Volunteer Fire Company.Soose said another resident called him to say she could see smoke coming from Lane's home, which is when Soose called Lane to give him the bad news.Lane, the lone resident of the home, watched in disbelief with a neighbor and Soose as firefighters used water and foam to attack the fire.“He wasn't gone for five minutes,” Soose said.Lane said no space heaters or any heating source other than the furnace was in use when he left for work.He said he will stay with friends until he decides his next move.“At least I wasn't in it,” Lane said as he watched the remains of his home smolder. “It could have been worse.”The American Red Cross was dispatched by Mike Pflugh, Unionville VFC chief, to help Lane with immediate needs.

Pflugh said nothing in the home was salvageable due to the intensity of the smoke and fire.He said firefighters first knocked down the exterior flames before mounting an interior attack.“There were heavy fire conditions in the living room area, which spread,” Pflugh said. “It was a total loss.”He estimated damages at no more than $30,000 for the structure and its contents.Pflugh said the state police fire marshal will investigate the blaze to try to determine a cause.Lane said he has insurance on the home.In addition to Unionville, responding were Slippery Rock, Oneida Valley, West Sunbury and Prospect volunteer fire departments as well as the Butler Township Volunteer Fire District and Butler Ambulance Service.

Fire departments were called to the scene of a trailer fire at 8:22 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 3 at 134 Caravan Court in Center Township. First responders from six departments plus Butler Ambulance were on the scene.

The mobile home that was the residence of Joe Lane for 20 years was beyond saving by the time firefighters arrived just a few minutes after being dispatched at 8:22 a.m. Thursday.

Assistant Fire Chief Shaun Milkovich of the Unionville Volunteer Fire Company assesses the damage after a trailer fire Thursday morning. First responders were called to the scene at Caravan Court in Center Township at 8:22 a.m. Firefighters from six departments responded to the call.

Firefighters were called to the scene of a trailer fire at 136 Caravan Court in Center Township at 8:22 a.m. Thursday. Nothing in the home was salvageable due to the intensity of the smoke and fire, according to Unionville Volunteer Fire Company Chief Mike Pflugh.

The older mobile home that was the residence of Joe Lane for 20 years was beyond saving by the time firefighters arrived just a few minutes after being dispatched 8:22 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, in Center Township.

Assistant Fire Chief Shaun Milkovich of the Unionville Volunteer Fire Company attacks hot spots during the fire at a mobile home in Center Township Thursday morning. The home's 20-year resident, Joe Lane, had been on his way to work when he got the call about the fire.