Fla. Mobile Home Park Residents Are Fearful of Arson

Feb. 04--MANATEE -- Araceli Guadarrama has lived at Aloha Estates mobile home park at 5310 14th St. W. for seven years and she says it is more than what people see from the street, which are rows of older trailers.

"This is a community of families," Guadarrama said Sunday afternoon.

Guadarrama said she and many of the estimated 500 residents of the park are upset and scared after three separate fires badly damaged three homes Saturday and left residents concerned there may be more fires set.

Total damage in all three fires is estimated at approximately $40,000, according to Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue, whose firefighters extinguished blazes at side-by-side homes in about 15 minutes at 2:35 a.m. Saturday and returned to put out another fire in a nearby home at 4:30 p.m. Saturday

"Yes, absolutely," Guadarrama said when asked if she thought the fires were arson. "We need protection."

Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue also said the fires were intentionally set.

None of the three homes was occupied, said Nestor Bonilla, who is an Aloha park employee in charge of maintenance and who also lives in the park with his family.

"It's usually very quiet here," Bonilla said.

One resident who did not want to give her name said that "the person who set these fires knew what they were doing" because they knew these three particular homes were vacant.

Bonilla said the park is filled with children, which is the biggest reason residents are worried.

"We have a lot of kids here," Bonilla said.

Bonilla said most rent their mobile homes for $400 to $500 monthly from people who own them. The homes are mostly one-bedroom

single-wide trailers.

Nestor translated for many Hispanic residents who did not speak English.

Lillian Orochena, who is Bonilla's mother-in-law, is also a seven-year resident.

"I was sleeping and suddenly heard all this noise," Orochena told her son-in-law. "We are all very scared."

Guadarrama and Orochena told Bonilla that some type of surveillance equipment should immediately be installed.

"We have never had trouble like this," Guadarrama said. "Something is happening here."

The park manager, Manuel Aldana, lives in Apollo Beach and was not on site Sunday, Bonilla said.

"This is not normal," Bonilla agreed with the residents. "Something is going on. We would like the police in on this."

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office rarely does routine patrols in Aloha Estates, Bonilla said.

"The police do come in, but mostly when they are looking for someone," Bonilla said.

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