Fire destroys mobile home

A small mobile home and attached shed were completely destroyed by fire Tuesday afternoon.

City, County and State fire departments responded to the fire in the 1100 block of South Main St. following the 3:48 p.m. call.

According to Tulare County Fire Department Chief Ted Mendoza, engines from Terra Bella, Springville, Doyle Colony and City of Porterville, as well as breathing apparatus support, responded to the fire.

“There were no injuries but we did find at least six dead cats in there,” Mendoza said. “There might be more. They didn’t survive the fire.”

Park manager Brenda Denson said she was at the other end of the Porterville Trailer Park when she received word about the fire.

“I was here reading the meters when someone said they smelled smoke,” Denson said. “I started hearing people yelling about the fire and once I saw it, I quickly turned off the gas and the electricity to the unit.”

Denson said she was worried the middle-age couple might be inside. She also indicated the couple had numerous cats and that they were trapped inside the burning structure.

“I kept screaming and yelling out their names but they wouldn’t answer,” she said. “Finally one of the neighbors reached them. They were in Fresno and are on their way back.”

Residents of Porterville Trailer Park could be seen with hoses, watering their property.

“The homes are so close together here. We all have to do everything we can to protect our homes,” Denson said. “I just feel so sad for all those cats. They didn’t have a chance in there.”

The fire is under the investigation of Tulare County Fire Department.

Contact Esther Avila at 784-5000, Ext. 1045. Follow her on Twitter @Avila_recorder.