Fire Destroys Home in Foley Lakes on Wednesday, April 21
A barbecue, table and are about the only recognizable remains from a home fire at Foley Lakes that occurred on Wednesday, April 21.
By Tom Peterson
When firefighters arrived at a house fire in Foley Lakes on Wednesday, April 21, they found a double-wide manufactured home with flames coming out the front door and the roof on fire.
“We had to take a defensive strategy,” said Assistant Chief David Jenkins with Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue. “The home was almost a total loss.”
But no one was physically injured, he pointed out. Residents of the home made it out safely.
Jenkins said seven people were living in the home.
Neighbor Mary Hoffman said flames were coming out the front door and off of the roof.
“It started in the front and went really fast,” she said. “The ceiling fan in the living room crashed to the floor.”
Those living in the home did not have a chance to remove any of their belongings.
According to the Wasco County Sheriff’s log, the fire started in the living room next to a couch.
“It’s sad,” Hoffman said. “They have lived there for about 7 years. During the fire they were trying to salvage their stuff, but they couldn’t do it.”
Too hot.
Hoffman said the owner did not have insurance on the home due to its age.
CCCNews has reached out to the homeowner who was put up in a hotel last night by the American Red Cross. We will follow up with updates if they choose to discuss the situation.
Firefighters from Dallesport and Mosier assisted in fighting the blaze that started shortly before noon.
Jensen said a total of four engines, two water trucks and three chiefs were on the fire with a total of 17 staff.
No staff was injured during the fire.
The best they could do was stop the fire from spreading to nearby homes.
Jensen called it a salvage and overhaul, meaning that once the fire hit the roof and it collapsed, there was nothing left to save. Water tenders drew from the nearby pond to provide enough water to quell the blaze.
Staff were on the fire until 5:47 p.m. on Wednesday and the flames rekindled again this morning when the wind came up according to one neighbor, requiring some additional mop-up by firefighters.
“The heat stays in for a long time,” Jensen said, noting the roof collapse buried the embers.
The City of The Dalles brought in an excavator and moved the burning pieces around so that firefighters could douse the hidden flames and embers.
A formal report on the fire is expected later today. However, Jensen said due to the intense heat and destruction caused by the fire, the cause could not be determined.
