You are viewing this article in the AnnArbor.com archives. For the latest breaking news and updates in Ann Arbor and the surrounding area, see MLive.com/ann-arbor
Posted on Tue, Oct 23, 2012 : 8:09 p.m.

2 residents hospitalized after escaping mobile home fire

By Kyle Feldscher

See All Thumbnails

Two people were taken to the hospital Tuesday evening following an escape from their burning mobile home in Superior Township.

The home in the 1515 block of Ridge Road suffered severe damage after a fire tore through it, at one point shooting flames about 10 feet into the air through a hole in the roof made by firefighters. The two residents, a man and a woman, appeared to be home at the time the fire broke out and escaped across the street.

Shortly after making it to safety, the man who lived at the home fell to the ground and was treated by Huron Valley Ambulance personnel who had responded to the scene. Witnesses said the man had suffered an apparent heart attack. The woman stayed at the man’s side for a long period of time before falling to the ground with a medical issue of her own, an apparent seizure.

Huron Valley Ambulance officials would not release the condition the residents were in or their ages, only saying they were taken to a local hospital. The woman appeared to be younger than the man and witnesses on scene said she was his daughter. Their names were not known as of Tuesday evening.

Neighbors Sheri King and Annemarie Villani were standing outside the home watching the blaze along with many other residents of the mobile home community. King said the woman had exited the home and blamed the fire on an unattended candle.

“She talked about a candle burning in the bathroom and her dad’s girlfriend left it burning,” King said.

Superior Township Fire Department Capt. Shaun Bach said the official cause of the fire was not known as of 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and the investigation into the fire had just begun. He had heard about the candle as well, but was not sure whether it was the cause of the fire.

Crews were dispatched to the scene just after 5 p.m. Tuesday and the majority of the flames were out by 5:45 p.m. However, a number of firefighters remained on scene afterward to stamp out any remaining sparks and to investigate.

Bach said the flames were mainly shooting out through the rear of the residence when crews arrived.

“They were pushing out through the rear of the unit and when we got in the fire was through the roof,” he said.

Firefighters from the Superior Township Fire Department responded, with Ypsilanti Township firefighters and Ann Arbor Township firefighters providing assistance through a mutual aid request. Huron Valley Ambulance crews remained on scene into the night to assist firefighters who were still working on the remnants of the fire.

The smoke from the fire was visible from at least a half mile away and thin, gray clouds poured from the burning structure into the twilight. At one point, firefighters tore a hole in the roof in an attempt to give the smoke another way to exit. A few seconds after a firefighter walked away from the hole, flames shot out of it, reaching 10 feet in the air above the roof. Witnesses reported smelling the pungent fumes from the fire a mile away.

Despite the heat from the blaze, the mobile homes on either side seemed to escape harm.

The residents of the mobile home owned a dog and it managed to survive, Villani said. She said it was surreal to leave the comfort of home to then look out and see smoke billowing into the air.

“You never think it’ll be you or it’ll happen to someone close to you, you know what I mean,” she said, adding, “I just wish her family and everyone of them luck, they’re in my prayers.”

Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.

Comments

G-Man

Wed, Oct 31, 2012 : 5:29 p.m.

This home appears to be a "Manufactured Home" under HUD standards. A "Modular" home is a factory built home that falls under the Michigan Bureau of Construction Code Act and not HUD. Generally, modular homes are wood frame construction, more similar to stick built, except that they are factory built. Most (but not all) manufactured homes have steel undercarriages and other features commonly found, and again, are under HUD guidelines. They have been called double wides for a long time ( and trailers before that). That term is usually meant for manufactured homes. The term "mobile home" was the predecessor to the term "manufactured home" and units were usually called that because of the axles and wheels which might still be attached to the unit halves, and hence could be moved off site in short order.

John Hritz

Wed, Oct 24, 2012 : 7:38 p.m.

Any comments on the size of the roll-out for this fire? And what municipalities supplied firefighters? Looks like 4-5 fire trucks and three police cruisers.

Paula Gardner

Wed, Oct 24, 2012 : 3:33 p.m.

Here's something that I found online that helps define the difference between mobile home and modular: http://www.nachi.org/modular-manufactured-homes.htm I do appreciate the sentiment from Oldtimer3 - it is their home. And we all know what that means to a person. Thanks for adding that to this conversation.

Craig Lounsbury

Wed, Oct 24, 2012 : 3:23 p.m.

The skirting around the base suggests its probably on a chassis which makes it "mobile" rather than modular in my unprofessional opinion.

OLDTIMER3

Wed, Oct 24, 2012 : 1:54 p.m.

It sure looks like a modular not a mobile to me.Not that it makes a differance,it was still their HOME. Whatever hope the people have a speedy recovery.

llspier

Wed, Oct 24, 2012 : 2:44 a.m.

Just a small clarification of terminology: this home shown is NOT a 'mobile home'. It is a 'modular' home-and yes, there is a difference. Today's modular homes are built to the same standards as stick-built homes . . but often are not placed on a true foundation-and dont cost $150,000 (although some do). Local zoning regulations often wont allow these to be placed in many residential neighborhoods, not because they are substandard but to protect the property values of other more expensive homes. 'Mobile home' just conveys the wrong picture of what's been lost here . . it was someone's home. And that's important.

Sue

Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 1:41 a.m.

Calling it a trailer might be disrespectful, calling it a mobile home is not in my opinion...and I lived in one for over 20 years. These are referred to as mobile homes primarily because they are movable and brought to their location on wheels, already built. They are also called manufactured homes. Modular homes are delivered in sections then assembled at their location and are not readily movable. It would have been noted if it had been an apartment fire as well, which is also someone's home. Try not to be so sensitive, it's hard to tell whether a home in a mobile home community is a modular or a manufactured home.

djacks24

Wed, Oct 24, 2012 : 1:57 p.m.

Yeah, definitely a double wide mobile home. I've owned one in the past (unfortunately) and even when brand new, they are built with cheap materials and poor craftsmanship. And one that is anywhere near 10 years old or more is about worthless and a fire hazard waiting to happen.

Richard

Wed, Oct 24, 2012 : 11:19 a.m.

The home shown is definitely a Double-Wide Mobile Home and NOT built with the same standards as stick-built homes. A modular home is much different.

Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

© 2013 MLive Media Group All rights reserved (About Us). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of MLive Media Group