FL Firefighters Rescue Woman from Mobile Home Fire

March 22, 2020
Marion County firefighters pulled a woman from the structure through a window over a ground ladder.

A woman trapped in a house fire was pulled to safety by Marion County firefighters early Saturday morning.

The victim was transported to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville where she was listed in critical condition.

Authorities said the woman had burns on her body and smoke inhalation.

According to Marion County Fire Rescue Spokesman James Lucas, they received a call about a structure fire and someone inside at 6:12 a.m. Firefighters arrived at the location at 6:21 a.m.

At the time of the call, firefighters were told that an adult and four children were already outside.

When firefighters got to the double-wide mobile home, half of the structure was on fire. Flames could be seen exiting the roof, and both sides of the residence, officials said.

Neighbors told firefighters that a woman was inside, and they found her near a window.

During the rescue mission, firefighters continued battling the blaze, which was called under control at 6:37 a.m.

Evelyn Youmans, one of several people in the home at 8610 NW 13th Court when the fire started, told the Star-Banner she was asleep when a loud booming noise woke her up. She said when she opened her eyes, she saw smoke and fire.

Youmans said she yelled "Fire!," got out of the bed before grabbing two children who were in the living room. She carried them outside, left them and returned to the home to rescue two other children.

With the children safely outside, Youmans went into the home to get the trapped woman, but by then the smoke and fire were too much, Youmans said.

Youmans identified the rescued woman as 57-year-old Mishon McBride. The children — two boys and two girls — removed from the home were ages 10, 9, 6 and 4. A man who was also in the home, managed to get out safely, officials said.

Neighbor Elizabeth Ramos said she heard screaming and saw Youmans begging for help. Ramos said she went over the yard and using a blanket, huddled with the children, who were crying for their grandmother, who was unable to get out of the burning home.

Ramos said the roof caved in minutes after she called 911 and that firefighters arrived and pulled the trapped woman to safety.

State officials from the Bureau of Fire, Arson & Explosives Investigations were called to investigate the fire.

Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118, [email protected] or @almillerosb.

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©2020 the Ocala Star-Banner (Ocala, Fla.)

Visit the Ocala Star-Banner (Ocala, Fla.) at www.ocala.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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