Early morning fire destroys trailer home, called suspicious

An early morning fire drove a mother and four children out of their trailer home about 3 a.m. Saturday morning.

Fire officials said the cause of the fire was suspicious but declined to specify the reasons for their investigation.

“(It was) just the way everything was this morning when we went in and what the homeowner was telling us when we got up,” said fire investigator Jeff Allan. “We’re not sure exactly sure how everything went as far as what transpired and that’s why it’s under investigation.”

Battalion Chief Kevin Crouch of the Clovis Fire Department said two engines and a tanker responded about 3:05 a.m. to 916 South Valley on the southwest end of Clovis and found smoke coming from the windows.

“The main blaze was in the living room and the contents were on fire,” Crouch said. “Everybody got out okay.”

The home’s contents were a total loss according to the fire department’s report, which estimated their value at $20,000. The structure, valued at $50,000, sustained an estimated $20,000 worth of damage.

Fire Chief Ron Edwards said Dana Kendal and her children received emergency housing vouchers from the local Red Cross chapter. Kendal could not be reached for comment, but relatives said she had made longer-term housing arrangements by Saturday afternoon.

Crouch said Kendal did the right thing by getting out of her home as quickly as possible.

“Nobody has any additional time or any reason to be in a house that’s on fire,” Crouch said. “It’s terribly important that they have the ability to get out, which means every home needs to have smoke detectors.”