Fire destroys four Vernon mobile homes

By Brent Mutis - Vernon Morning Star Published: July 23, 2010 5:00 PM
At least four homes burned to the ground and a number of surrounding residences were badly damaged in a fire Friday afternoon at the Coyote Crossing Villas Mobile Home Park. There were no injuries reported as the dying flames were being doused by volunteer firefighters from the Okanagan Indian Band and Armstrong-Spallumcheen Fire Departments. A cause is not yet known but witnesses say the fire originated in the garage of a home in the northwest corner of the park, which is located just off Westside Road near the junction with Highway 97. Neighbours said a retired couple lived in the home but were quickly notified by neighbours to get out. Pat Mick lived in the home beside where the fire started and said when he noticed smoke, he grabbed a garden hose but it was futile. “It was too far gone,” said Mick. “I got my dogs and got out.” Mick said the only reason he was home to save his pets in the first place was his shift at Okanagan Spring Brewery was cancelled because of a hydraulic explosion there on Thursday. His home is insured and he took the fire’s destruction in stride. “I don’t have to clean that window this weekend,” he chuckled ruefully with neighbours as a firefighter took an axe to the glass at the front of his house. “It was a beautiful home, but no one was hurt.“That’s life; what can you do?”

Mick, the father of former Vernon Vipers head coach and general manager Troy Mick, said he would lose all the hockey photos he had of his son. He said his wife had gone to another part of the park because she was too upset to take in the scene. North Westside Fire and Rescue firefighter Fritz Vant Hullenaar was the first person on scene trained to deal with fires. He happened to notice the column of smoke as he was driving home from shopping and began moving residents once he assessed the fire. “All the people were standing around and I had to evacuate them,” said Vant Hullenaar, who has been with North Westside Fire and Rescue for nearly three years. “I had to make sure everyone was out; there was a possibility of a natural gas explosion and the smoke was deadly.” He estimated the fire began just before 3 p.m. Soon after that, the fumes rising into the sky were so thick and black, the sun was blotted out. Witnesses said firefighters didn’t report until about 25 minutes after the flames broke out. “The response is what it is,” said Vant Hullenaar, noting the vinyl siding on the homes acted like fuel once ignited. “But it would sure be nice if we would have an agreement (with local departments). “We should be able to respond.” Most of the homes in the park were six years old or less.

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