Residents reeling after fire damages five homes in mobile home park
Luis Avila
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Residents at the Ramon Mobile Home Park are grappling with the aftermath of a fire that damaged five homes Saturday afternoon. Some are now raising concerns about how the fire was fought.
Authorities say five fire engines and two ambulances responded to the scene, working quickly to contain the blaze, but not before it forced residents from their homes and led to the hospitalization of one person for smoke inhalation.
Residents recounting the moment the fire ignited.
“He realized those people were being notified but we weren’t being notified so he just banged on my door and was like ‘you got to get out, you got to get out now, your house is on fire, move your car.’ Then he took a hose and hosed that side and I took a hose and hosed this side.”
Ilene Wood, Ramon Mobile Home Park resident
“I was actually taking a nap and my partner said he heard two explosions and he looked out the window and he saw black smoke… We got the dogs and left.”
Jack Cline, Ramon Mobile Home Park resident
Some residents now questioning whether access to fire hydrants was needed.
“I know there’s no fire hydrants in this park and they had to get water at Sunrise over a thousand feet and that was a delay in fighting the fire because it took them a while to get the hose over there to this location.”
Jack Cline, Ramon Mobile Home Park resident
News Channel 3 took these concerns to fire officials on scene, who did not want to be on camera, hoping to get answers. They confirmed there are no hydrants within the park but along the outer perimeter. They also say the property was built prior to code requirements.
The American Red Cross is assisting those displaced by the fire. The cause is still being investigated.
Stay with News Channel 3 for more.