Blanket on Furnace Blamed for Ill. Mobile Home Fire

Source The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Ill.

Oct. 11, 2013

Oct. 10--BLOOMINGTON -- A blanket left on top of a furnace is being blamed for a fire that destroyed a mobile home Wednesday at the Willow Creek Mobile Home Park in Bloomington.

Firefighters responded at 7:27 a.m. to 26 Snapdragon Lane where they found heavy smoke coming from the home, said Assistant Fire Chief Steve Giusti. Firefighters had the blaze under control in about 10 minutes and were on the scene until 9:30 a.m.

"It's a total loss," said Giusti, adding the two tenants do not have renter's insurance. The damage was estimated at $35,000.

One of the two occupants was home at the time of the fire but got out safely before firefighters arrived.

A blanket had been placed on the furnace to absorb water from a roof leak after recent heavy rains, firefighters said. The furnace turned on overnight and ignited the blanket, firefighters said.

American Red Cross of the Heartland is assisting is residents with lodging and other personal needs.

One firefighter sustained a minor injury while at the scene.