A single-wide mobile home was destroyed by fire last Thursday morning on Highway B east of Raymondville.
Raymondville Volunteer fire Department Chief Mike Jackson said two trucks and four firefighters from his department responded at about 11:30 a.m., but the home (near Bee Rock Drive) was already unsalvageable.
“It was totally engulfed when our truck arrived,” Jackson said. “We basically went into protecting a propane tank and a detached garage and storage building that were in danger. There was some smoldering on a roof, but we did take care of those.”
The Raymondville VFD received mutual aid at the blaze from the Houston Rural and Licking fire departments, with Houston Rural sending two trucks and four personnel and Licking one truck and two firefighters. Jackson said witnesses indicated the blaze apparently started in a back bedroom.
Jackson said the home was lived in by Evan White.
“They weren’t using the propane furnace,” Jackson said. “They were heating with space heaters.”
Jackson said nobody was injured, but some pets didn’t make it.
“There was entry attempted through a back door of the residence,” Jackson said. “They weren’t able to get in and save the pets, but I think the reason the fire accelerated so fast was the back door was left open.”
Jackson contacted the Red Cross.
“They do a good job of taking care of people who have lost everything in a fire,” he said.