Sean C. Morgan
A South Fork man was left homeless Saturday evening when fire destroyed his trailer.
Firefighters responded to a report of a fire at 3224 Main St. South Fork Trailer Park, space 15 at 5:07 p.m. on Saturday and found a fully involved structure fire. The fire was under control by 5:24 p.m., and the last unit cleared the scene at 6:22 p.m.
Investigators had not listed a suspected cause as of Monday, according to the fire report. The fire started about the middle of the trailer.
Resident Tony Picard was not inside when the fire started but said he suffered from smoke inhalation after going back in to try to save his dog, Chloe.
He went to the hospital, where he was treated for inhaling too much carbon monoxide, Picard said. He was planning to return to the hospital again Monday night.
“They said it wasn’t electrical,” Picard said. “It’s arson.”
One person was reportedly inside the trailer just prior to the fire, Picard said.
Picard had his radio on and his dog in the kitchen that day preparing dinner, he said. “We ate together. We watched movies.”
He stepped out for a few minutes, and everybody could hear his music, he said. That’s when someone went inside.
“They locked my dog in the bedroom,” Picard said. That’s why she wouldn’t come when she was called. “It crawled up under the dresser and went to sleep.”
According to the fire report, neighbors noticed the fire and reported it to 9-1-1.
Picard tried to go back in and save his dog. He couldn’t get into the front door, so he broke out the side bedroom window with his hands and crawled into the house looking for his dog, which was pregnant.
“There nothing but smoke,” Picard said. “I opened the doors, calling for my dog.”
He stepped into the hallway, but he couldn’t breathe and had to get out, he said.
He and a neighbor located Chloe later. Chloe was a red-nosed American pit, Picard said. “She was a loveable bulldog. She loved everybody. Everybody loved her.”
Picard, who moved to Sweet Home from Madras in June, lost everything he has ever owned, he said. That included photos of his son, who passed away in 2009.
The Red Cross provided Picard a motel room and assistance for three nights. One neighbor said the neighborhood won’t leave him with no place to go, but Picard said he needs food and clothing right now.
In addition to Picard’s home, a neighboring trailer may have had some smoke damage, according to the fire report.
Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District responded with 19 firefighters, four pieces of fire suppression apparatus and two support vehicles.
Anyone who wishes to assist Picard, may contact him at (503) 569-4665.