Seeley Lake volunteer firefighters Mike Triplett and Shawn Ellinghouse prepare to enter the trailer house on Elm Drive the evening of Oct. 31. Seeley Lake Fire Chief Bob Vanden Heuvel hands them the hose while volunteer Shelly Johnson walks over to assist.
Volunteer Angie Kelly comforts a kitten after it was rescued from the burning building.
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Volunteer Fire Department responded to a trailer house fire on Elm Drive just after 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. Upon arrival, flames were visible on the east side and smoke was spilling out of the eaves.
The fire was contained to the kitchen and porch. No one was inside the home when the fire started. While the cause is still under investigation, Seeley Lake Fire Chief and fire investigator Bob Vanden Heuvel is leaning towards an electrical issue in the kitchen. No foul play is suspected.
According to Vanden Heuvel, Seeley Lake volunteer firefighters Shawn Ellinghouse, Kristy Pohlman and Michael Triplett were set up at the Seeley Lake Trunk-or-Treat when they noticed smoke coming from the trailer, not a half a block away. At the same time the dispatch came out, the firefighters were moving towards the structure.
Neighbors were already on scene ensuring that no one was inside. Neighbor Jean Loesch was so thankful for neighbor Austin Dillree who was yelling in the house for the children and moved the family's truck away from the trailer. "In my eyes, he was a hero," said Loesch who was also making sure everyone was out of the house.
When responders arrived within seconds, they were told that no one was in the house, there were pets still inside and there was no propane.
"This helped us better plan our attack," said Vanden Heuvel.
Within minutes of the call, nearly a dozen more volunteers were on scene to help. They vented the structure launching an exterior attack while Ellinghouse and Triplett were able to enter the trailer within five minutes of arrival. They contained the fire to the kitchen with less than 20 gallons of water.
"They used the steam conversion to knock down the fire," said Vanden Heuvel.
Ellinghouse and Triplett quickly found the cat and kitten inside. The kitten was given oxygen and survived. Volunteers attempted to revive the cat but were unsuccessful. The dog was found in the back bedroom under the bed, as far from the fire as possible. Even though the flames did not reach the bedroom, the dog succumbed to the smoke despite volunteers' efforts to revive it.
Vanden Heuvel said the smoke alarms were functioning. It reminded him how important smoke alarms are for an early warning to occupants and how necessary an evacuation plan is.
Vanden Heuvel estimated temperatures throughout the trailer to be between 300-400 degrees Fahrenheit based on the melting of the fixtures on the ceiling. The interior sustained fire damage in the kitchen and smoke and soot damage through the rest of house.
"I was highly impressed with the number of volunteers that responded, the organization of the fire attack and our support staff [of Emergency Medical Responders (EMTs)] that were ready to save humans and animals," said Vanden Heuvel. "It was a blessing where we were, it was a blessing that no one was in the trailer and it was a blessing that none of the volunteers got hurt."
"The Seeley Lake Fire Department was just awesome," said Loesch. "Their care and compassion for the family and their pets was incredible. I'm so thankful they were so close and for all their help."
Even though the structure was saved, everything in it was lost. There is a GoFundMe site set up to support the Gonzalez family including their five young boys, https://www.gofundme.com/pv7y6vra. There is aslo an account set up at Citizens Alliance Bank in Seeley Lake for donations. Checks can be made payable to Erica Gonzalez or the Gonzalez fund.
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