By CALEB FOX

Employee Reporter

During a fire alarm on Wednesday, August 14, around 7:15 p.m., black smoke was seen rising from the Chalet Mobile Home Park on East G Street in Oakdale.

Just minutes later – 7:18 p.m. – firefighters were dispatched to the location for a “potential structure fire,” said Battalion Chief Jeff Serpa of the Modesto Fire Department. Not long after, news came: “Two minutes later, we received another report that a trailer was on fire,” Serpa continued.

The caravan park is located away from East G and the houses are close together.

“The first unit to arrive was Engine 29,” Serpa said, and upon arrival, firefighters faced many problems.

“Due to the extent of the fire, a second alarm was issued,” Serpa said, sending additional units to the scene. The flames, which engulfed a mobile home on site, were not the only problem, however; power lines were down in the alley behind the fire, making the already dangerous environment even more dangerous for firefighters and civilians.

The main goal of firefighters on the scene was to “stop the lateral spread of the fire,” Serpa said. With homes on either side of the mobile home already engulfed in flames, it was imperative to stop the spread and protect neighboring units.

During the incident, a portion of East G Street was closed to traffic.

Chief Serpa said a trailer fire had been extinguished.

Significant damage was also reported at three other buildings in the trailer park, but firefighters were able to contain the spread of the fire. There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians, officials said.

Fire investigators were on site trying to determine the cause of the fire. The Red Cross was also called to help two adults find emergency accommodation.

Crews remained on scene for several hours and the first call included Engines 29 and 23, Squadron 5, and the 5th Battalion. The second call brought Engines 9, 22, 24, 27, 28, and the 2nd Battalion to the East G Street location.