Three-alarm fire burns two trailer homes, displaces 10 residents
EL CENTRO — A threealarm structure fire that occurred Friday afternoon here burned two trailer homes and displaced a total of 10 residents.
No injuries were reported, and the source fire and its exposures were contained to the structure of origin, El Centro Fire Department Battalion Chief Cedric Ceseña said.
The fire occurred at a trailer park in the 1100 block of North Sixth Street across from Frazier Field.
ECFD first responded at about 1:30 p.m. Friday to the incident and, within minutes of arrival, declared a third-alarm structure fire, which drew assistance from fire departments across the county.
“It took about 45 minutes to get a handle on the fire, and maybe about an hour and a half to have it to what we considered it to be under control,” Chief Ceseña said. “Unfortunately, it did heavily damage the two trailers and displaced a total of 10 people out of their homes, so they have nowhere to stay tonight.”
The fire started outside of one of the trailers, and the fire department does have an idea of the point of origin, Chief Ceseña said.
Asked about possible arson, Chief Ceseña said, “That’d be difficult to tell right now. Our investigators are working together on the facts of the incident, so we won’t know that until later.”
Approximately 35 firefighters were on scene. Initially responding to the scene were two fire engines and two rescue squads from ECFD and an Imperial Fire Department battalion chief and engine company.
Once the third alarm was called, assistance was brought in from Calexico, Holtville, Brawley, Imperial County and NAF El Centro fire departments.
Members of the American Red Cross responded to the scene and assisted the displaced residents.
“As of right now, we haven’t identified any psychological needs, but we are looking for some assistance in finding them a new home and finding them a little bit more clothes,” American Red Cross Disaster Program Manager Jose Ortega said. “Today, we want to ensure they do have some answers, then tomorrow when they are feeling better, then we’re going to continue assisting them.”