LUCERNE — A house fire on Monday that completely gutted a residence is being still under investigation by the Lake County Arson Task Force. The Northshore Fire Protection District responded to the fire at 4:41 a.m. at an address on 13th Avenue.
The first unit on scene was Fire Chief Jim Robbins, who reported a fully involved single-wide mobile home with a wooden addition. In addition to the already dangerous situation, live electric wires fell onto the first fire engine to arrive on scene and hampered initial suppression efforts.
Northshore Fire Protection District Investigating Officer Captain Dave Emmel said the fire suppression efforts were only hampered for a minute because, “We backed the fire engine out and were able to remove the live wire from the engine that way.” According to Emmel, PG&E arrived approximately 45 minutes later and was able to disconnect power to the lines.
Making matters even worse, other falling power lines impeded the firefighters” ability to prevent major fire damage to the residence next door.
Emmel said the occupants of the home, Danielle Wilsong, Duke Faleagafulu and their two girls, aged 6 and 9, “Lost everything.”
According to a friend of the family, Arianna Gott, all the new school clothes and supplies the family just purchased were lost. She said the family is devastated.
According to Wilsong, the family especially needs kitchen wares and a clothes washer and dryer.
Anyone interested in donating items should contact Gott at 987-2712.
Contact Cynthia Davis at cdavis@record-bee.com.
