Four people are homeless after a fire destroyed two mobile homes in Penhold Monday afternoon.
No one was hurt in the fire, including two dogs, but the two units are a complete loss.
Penhold fire chief Jim Pendergast said the fire started in unit 20 at Penhold Estates trailer park and spread to unit 21. He said the units’ close proximity led to the “rapid fire spread.”
The park consists of about 121 lots.
Firefighters were called out at 4:15 p.m. and both trailers were fully engulfed in flames when crews arrived.
Pendergast said the occupants of the trailer where the fire started were outside when they noticed the smoke.
He said fire was under control at the first trailer at about midnight and at the other trailer around 1 a.m.
“The fires weren’t going anywhere. We just couldn’t get at it. We had to cut through beams and roofs and double ceilings to try to get at the seed of where some hot spots were.”
He said one firefighter fell with the icy conditions and has been released from hospital with a torn muscle. He is expected to return to work next week.
“It was very slippery. We were flowing so much water,” said Pendergast about fighting the fire in the freezing cold.
“That caused a lot of problems for us. Our breathing apparatus kept freezing up so then the firefighters would have to exit the structure and put our packs inside the trucks to thaw out.
“It is firefighting in Canada.”
He confirmed neither of the couples have insurance.
Pendergast said open flame heaters were likely the cause of the fire, and at least one of those heaters was on during the time of the fire.
Penhold Mayor Mike Yargeau said the family in unit 21 is devastated. They lived in the mobile home since 1991.
“His two kids were born there,” said Yargeau.
“He was very sad, very hurt obviously. They have lost everything, they had no time to grab any of their belongings.”
Both families were able to stay with family Monday night.
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
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