Mobile Home Fire in Chico
A single wide mobile home, tucked away behind a business in one of Chico’s industrial areas, was where a mother and her 4-year-old twin daughters resided. Dispatchers received calls about a fire in that area around 1:15 a.m on Tuesday, November 29, 2016. Sadly, when fire crews arrived on the scene, the mobile home was already fully engulfed in flames.
What Happened?
Details of what caused the fire remain unclear. The first fire crews to arrive on the scene discovered that two of the occupants had already escaped the fire. Initial reports stated that there might be two additional residents trapped inside of the home. Six engines from Butte, Cal Fire, and Chico Fire Department worked the fire. It took crews over two hours to fully contain the blaze.
One Tragic Fatality and Other Burn Injuries Reported
A mother and her 4-year-old daughter were transported to Chico’s Enloe Medical Center for burn injuries they both sustained in the fire. Officials have not yet released an update on their conditions. The Butte County Coroner’s Office said in a statement that a 4-year-old girl (one of the twins) passed away in the blaze.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of the young child who passed away in this tragedy.
Helpful Links and Information
Losing a child is one of the worst pains a parent can experience. Below I will list some information and resources that many of my past wrongful death clients have found to be useful.
Common Causes for Mobile Home Fires
Mobile home fires can happen anywhere, and be caused by a wide variety of things, such as:
- Fireplaces
- Candles
- Heaters
- Cigarettes
- Faulty electrical appliances
No matter the source of the fire, if you or a loved one have suffered from burn injuries as a result of another person’s careless actions or negligence, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries as a result of a mobile home fire.
Requirements of Mobile Home Owners, Mobile Home Park Operators
Mobile home park operators and owners are required by California state law to have water supplies and hydrants on site. The fire safety equipment must be regularly inspected and tested to be sure they are in proper working order. This way if a situation were to arise where fire personnel should need them, they are available. State law also requires mobile home facilities to keep fire lanes accessible and unobstructed at all times so that emergency personnel vehicles have easy access to them.
People who own their own mobile home and/or the mobile home property owners/managers should ensure the lots and exterior surroundings are free from hazardous and combustible materials. They should also take great caution while using open flame equipment and devices in the common areas of the mobile home park.
Fire Safety
Sometimes reading about a situation others have gone through opens our eyes and gives us the nudge we need to become better prepared in case of a fire. The American Red Cross is a great source of information for prevention from all sorts of both natural and human-caused disasters.
- Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, outside sleeping areas and inside all bedrooms. It’s a good idea to have one in your laundry room as well.
- Test your smoke alarms monthly.
- When the time changes twice a year and you’re fixing your clocks, change your smoke alarm batteries.
- Talk with your family and other members of your household about a fire escape plan. If you have small children, practice the plan multiple times.
- Sleep with bedroom doors closed, if a fire takes place the smoke alarm will alert you. A closed bedroom door can keep smoke and flames out for a short amount of time, giving you or your family precious moments to get out through a bedroom window. Always feel a door before opening it if you’re in a fire. Feeling it gives you an idea of how close the flames could be.
- If you are in a home fire, it’s important to get you and the members of your home out as soon as possible. Never go back in once you’re safely out.
Independent Fire Investigations
Our burn injury lawyers have over three decades of experience handling fire accident and burn injury cases. We have seen the effects that fires can cause — emotionally, physically and financially.
The ongoing treatment associated with burn injuries can be very extensive and extremely costly. Our experienced legal staff is ready to serve you. We can investigate your case to ensure you receive the compensation you need and deserve to cover all of your medical expenses associated with your injuries.
Chico Personal Injury Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Chico personal injury attorney. If you or a loved one have suffered burn injuries due to the negligent actions of another person, please call me at (530) 392-9400 or toll-free at (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice. I have been assisting families from Northern California with their wrongful death and personal injury claims for over 30 years.
See my past client reviews on Yelp, Google, and Avvo.
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Source of Chico Mobile Home Fire:
http://www.krcrtv.com/news/local/butte/coroner-releases-name-of-4-year-old-twin-killed-in-fire/191245638
http://www.redcross.org/get-help/prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/fire
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
:RTC