by David Flint
High winds and a fire in a trailer park are a recipe for disaster. But the quick response by Stephentown firefighters to a mobile home fire in Chuckleberry Park Tuesday morning, February 28, kept things under control. [private]Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Rik McClave said they received the call at 7:44 am. While responding the Department was informed that it was unknown whether there were any occupants in the trailer. Upon arrival they learned that fortunately no one was in the trailer owned by Michael and Cassie Baldwin.
According to Rebecca Baldwin, the Baldwin’s cousin, they lived there with their daughter and the family dog. Both of them were at work when the fire broke out, and their daughter was at her grandparents’ house. Neighbors driving by, she said, saw the flames shooting out from under the deck attached to the main entrance of the home. He stopped, knowing there was a family dog inside, and kicked the front door open where the flames were roaring and got the dog and ran out of the home. They took the dog to their house until the Baldwins were contacted and arrived on the scene. Another friend had called 911 when he passed by and saw all the flames.
The SVFD responded with 13 members, three pumpers, a rescue truck and an ambulance. The fire was consuming the left side of the trailer including an attached wooden deck, McClave said, but it was quickly extinguished using compressed air foam. Although the fire did not get inside the trailer, there was extensive smoke damage throughout. The fire was determined to be accidental and started outside on the open deck in refuse that had recently been removed from inside. Rebecca Baldwin said that she was told that the cause of the fire was the pellet stove that heated the home. In the high wind, sparks from the stove pipe ignited a trash can on the deck. “The mobile home is a total loss and not able to be lived in again. Some things inside the home were able to be saved and a lot wasn’t. There was severe smoke damage to everything in the home. The owners have no insurance.,” she said.
Rebecca thanked the Stephentown Fire Department “for getting to the fire so quickly and putting it out extremely fast. Even though it was a total loss it could have been so much worse. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all you do for your community!” Speaking for Michael and Cassie she said, “So many kind folks in the community came to help, offer food, coffee, water, coats, their homes to warm up in and to help salvage what little could be saved. It’s amazing how such a little town pulled together to help a family in need who lost so much. Family, friends, neighbors, strangers, the fire department, the State Troopers were all there to help the Baldwins. We thank each and every one of them for all they did in a time of need. The Stephentown Fire Department was on the scene quickly and had the fire out in no time. What an outstanding Department they are. Thank you so very much!”[/private]