FIRE GUTS ELYRIA MOBILE HOME

Elyria – Neighbors at 405 Oberlin Road in Elyria say that they are surprised and happy that only one mobile home was lost in this afternoon’s fire. Virginia Sedlek said she was visiting family when they saw the flames shooting high in the air. “It was amazing how much fire was coming from their home and we thought for sure the fire was going to spread to the other homes but the firemen put it out real quick when they got here.”

Inside of trailer # 11 was Laurie Marciniak who was sleeping when the fire broke out. Marciniak’s SMOKE ALARM woke her up alerting her to the fire. An attempt by Marciniak to extinguish the blaze using two home fire extinguishers was unsuccessful.

A Lorain County Deputy Sheriff who happened to be in the area spotted the blaze and began alerting neighbors. One woman was refusing to leave her home until she found her cats. The Deputy along with Elyria Police Officers convinced her that it was for her own safety that she had to leave the home immediately. Sedlek and her family said they were happy the Officers were there to remove her from the home, “I didn’t see anyone else running over there to get her out of the trailer, if it weren’t for them who knows what would have happened to her. I love cats and all but I love my life more.”

Assistant Chief Ron Brlas of the Elyria Fire Department said that when their first Engine arrived on scene the home was fully involved. “The guys pulled an 1 ¾” attack line and made an exterior attack. By that time the second Engine came and did a reverse lay to the hydrant to pump water into the first Engine.”

Brlas said that it didn’t take that long to knock down the fire once they had the hydrant water – the fact that the trailer was so full of personal belongings that slowed the overhaul process down.

Art Mead Sr. of the American Red Cross said that at this point they are taking care of two families that total 10 people.

The Elyria Fire Department is investigating the cause of the blaze.

To see more photos from the scene: CLICK HERE