Salem Township firefighters discover mobile home filled to the rafters
Salem Township firefighters discovered a manufactured home so filled with items - everything from appliances to mattresses, pianos and boxes - that they struggled to extinguish a fire there early today.
It's unclear whether anyone lived in the residence at Northville Crossings manufactured home community on the township's north end.
"I've never seen anything like this," said Salem Township Trustee Brien Witkowski, a liaison for the Salem Fire Department. "The house was so packed that air couldn't get in, so the fire was relatively minor."
A neighbor noticed smoke coming from the home at about 5 a.m. today. Firefighters entered the front door and were immediately prevented from getting inside because of boxes up to the ceilings.
Each time they moved items, they found more - countless boxes, nearly a dozen mattresses, three pianos, computers and printers, washers and dryers, six TVs and much more, Witkowski said.
Firefighters cut holes in the sides of the mobile home to get to the fire, Witkowski said. They pulled the items from the home, and a backhoe was called in to deal with the property.
Witkowski said a mattress was set up in one of the three bedrooms, but firefighters don't know whether anyone was living there. A damage estimate was not available this morning.
The cause of the fire has not been determined.
Comments
tracyann
Thu, Oct 15, 2009 : 7:30 a.m.
Hoarding is actually a form of OCD and many hoarders also show signs of depression. It's not just about collecting things. Hoarders feel they may actually need these things someday and experience anxiety if someone tries to clear it out.
YouWhine
Wed, Oct 14, 2009 : 2:19 p.m.
Just because you pay bills on a place doesn't mean you live there. The assessor's office (especially in a township like Salem) would have no idea if a residence is occupied.
Paul Taylor
Wed, Oct 14, 2009 : 2:04 p.m.
Reminded me of the Collyer brothers of New York.
81wolverine
Wed, Oct 14, 2009 : 1:02 p.m.
Talk about packrats! Some people just love to save and collect things, but don't know where or when to draw the line. Obviously, here, you can see the potential problem in doing that. What I don't understand is why it's such a mystery whether "anyone lives there". It should be easy for someone to check with the home community manager or neighbors, or Salem Township assessor's office.
Bob Needham
Wed, Oct 14, 2009 : 10:40 a.m.
(three off-topic comments removed)