December 7, 1977

Fourth mobile home damaged by blaze

      The fourth fire in two days completely destroyed another mobile home at the Wheel Estates Mobile Home Park in White River Township Wednesday. Firemen are still investigating the causes of the four blazes, two of which occurred in vacant trailers. Wednesday’s fire gutted a mobile home at Lot 56 Wheel Estates. Officials at Wheel Estates said the owner, Othmar Heldman is in Florida. Total loss of the trailer and its contents was listed as $8,500. White River Township firefighters were called to the scene at 1:25 p.m. and fought the blaze for nearly two hours with ten men and three pieces of equipment. It was the ninth fire or rescue run in two days for the weary White River Township firefighters. After Tuesday’s seven-run day, ambulance attendants from Myers ambulance examined firefighter Andy Nichols who suffered chest pains and smoke inhalation. He was not transported to the hospital. Meanwhile, those left homeless from Tuesday’s fires have been relocated according to the Wheel Estates source. She said the Jerry Leeper family, whose mobile home on Lot 22 Wheel Estates burned to the ground Tuesday, has been moved to Lot 54. The Leepers were not at home when the fire began. A 62-year-old woman, who escaped fire in her trailer in a nightgown and bathrobe with only her handbag and small dog, is now living with a sister, the source said. Wheel Estates management has offered her a trailer. Help for the woman, Miss Helen Bradley, has been pouring in, according to Pat McDaniel, executive secretary of the Johnson County Red Cross, since news of her tragedy was publicized Wednesday. Mrs. McDaniel said the woman has received a sewing machine and other personal and household items. She had no insurance. “She has really appreciated the help,” Mrs. McDaniel said. Miss Bradley, who moved to the mobile home in October, lost all her possessions in the blaze. Firefighters listed the loss at $6,300 for the mobile home and $2,000 for contents. Perry Township firemen aided in fighting the blaze, which occurred just 15 minutes after the fire at the Leeper trailer. Greenwood firefighters were called to stand by in case of another emergency, White River Township Fire Chief Bob Wehrman said. The third fire Tuesday occurred at a trailer owned by Frankie Morrison. A spokesman at Wheel Estates said the mobile home was vacant. Firefighters estimated the loss to the trailer and contents at $9,000. The Morrison mobile home is at Lot 574 Wheel Estates, formerly the Buffalo Creek mobile home park. Wehrman said fire investigator Dave McDaniel is continuing his investigation of the four fires which he said, seemed to all start around the furnaces in the mobile homes. White River firefighters were also called out Wednesday at 12:32 p.m. to a barn at Morgantown and Smith Valley Roads Wehrman said what looked like smoke turned out to be steam on the barn roof.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)
 

 

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