December 6, 1977

Several homeless after fires

       Three mobile home fires in White River Township Tuesday left several persons homeless. Two of the fires, in the Wheel Estates mobile home park, were reported within 15 minutes of each other, sending 12 White River Township firefighters, along with a crew of eight from Perry Township, Indianapolis, fire department into the freezing temperatures about 10:30 a.m. The wind chill factor at the time of the fires was estimated at 20 below zero. The third fire occurred some two hours later at Buffalo Creek mobile home park, which is adjacent to Wheel Estates on County Line Road. A 62-year-old woman moved to Indiana from the state of Washington just this October escaped in her nightgown and bathrobe, saving only her dog and handbag as fire destroyed her mobile home and all its contents at Lot 66, Wheel Estates, according to Sgt. Robert Wilson of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department. The Johnson County Red Cross has issued a plea for donations of clothing and household items for the woman, who had no insurance. Wilson said, Helen Bradley was sitting in the living room of the mobile home were she lived alone, when she smelled smoke and noticed smoke around the heating registers. She told Wilson she immediately went to check the furnace, where she saw flames. As she fled the trailer, Wilson said, she noted that flames were spreading underneath the mobile home. Miss Bradley reportedly called firefighters from a neighboring mobile home about 10:39 a.m. The 1967 Buddy mobile home was completely destroyed, with loss to Miss. Bradley estimated at $6,000. Though fire inspectors are still investigating the blaze, Miss Bradley said she believed the fire started in the furnace. Wilson explained that Miss Bradley had heard what might have been a light explosion in the furnace, possibly caused by an accumulation of oil. Miss Bradley told Wilson that she had had the furnace worked on in October. She had reportedly just moved in October 19. Pat McDaniel, executive secretary of the Johnson County Red Cross, said that the organization is attempting to collect clothing and household items for the elderly woman, who is temporarily staying with a sister. The woman is also seeking residence to rent, Mrs. McDaniel said. She said that the Red Cross had been able to give Miss Bradley a small amount of money for clothing, though she noted, “all she had on was a nightgown.” Mrs. McDaniel said clothing in the following sizes is being sought: coat and dresses size 14; shoes size 81/2 D; hosiery size 101/2 and lingerie size 36. “She does sew” Mrs. McDaniel said, and would be glad to accept donations of fabric, although the Red Cross official noted that the woman’s sewing machine was lost along with the rest of her property. Mrs. McDaniel asked that anyone wanting to donate a sewing machine or other clothing or household goods call the Red Cross office at 736-5711 or Miss Bradley at 888-9872. She said the items will be picked up by Red Cross workers. Firemen were at the scene of the blaze more than two and one-half hours, and were called back to the scene at 1:30 p.m. when the insulation on the gutted mobile home rekindled. Firemen are also investigating the cause of the two other fires, according to Bob Wehrman, White River Township fire chief. The first reported fire, at Lot 202 Wheel Estates left only the foundation of a mobile home owned by Jerry Leeper. No one was at home when the fire was discovered by a neighbor at 10:23 a.m. The Perry Township firefighters and equipment were called in after the second fire was reported, Wehrman said. He noted that Perry Township brought two pumpers and a reserve tanker truck to the scene. Wehrman said on of White River Township’s pumpers froze up during the firefighting attempts, but the firemen were able to use the back-up tanker. The fire chief said both trailers were “completely gutted” by the time firefighters arrived. He noted that firemen had no trouble maneuvering over the icy White River Township roads, though the road conditions did require the trucks to drive more slowly. Firemen were called to the third mobile home fire at Lot 574 Buffalo Creek at 3:43 p.m. The mobile home which was completely gutted was owned by Frank Morrison, according to tentative reports. Investigation is also still underway as to the cause of that fire. Three ambulances were later sent to the White River Township Volunteer Fire Department, to assist in treating firefighters for exhaustion and smoke inhalation.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

        
(Click on a thumbnail to enlarge photo)

 

---