FORT RITNER – A Fort Ritner family lost their mobile home and all their possessions in a fire Saturday afternoon.
Firefighters responded to the blaze at 12:39 p.m. at the home of Ben and Tara Morrow after a neighbor spotted the blaze and called 911.
Firefighters from Shawswick, Marion, and Mitchell Volunteer Fire Departments and a Seals ambulance crew responded to the scene.
According to Shawswick VFD Chief Bob Brown, Shaswick VFD responded with eight firefighters and five trucks, Marion VFD with two trucks and three firefighters, and Mitchell with one truck and three firefighters.
The couple and their five children were not home when the fire started.
“They were were camping at Free Spirit Campground,” said Chief Brown. “The family pets, three cats and a dog perished in the blaze.
When firefighters arrived they found the front side of the mobile home engulfed in flames. It took firefighters about 30 minutes to get the blaze under control.
“We didn’t have any problems, but we had to do a lot of salvaging and overhaul. The mobile home and the contents were destroyed,” added Chief Brown. “All of the contents of the mobile home were black and heat damaged. The family had no insurance.”
Firefighters were on the scene until 2:55 p.m.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Chief Brown notified the American Red Cross to assist the family.
