Firefighters from five area volunteer departments responded to a fire around 9:15 a.m. Friday at 42 Second St. in the High Acres Mobile Home Back in Ellery. Witnesses reported seeing heavy smoke before firefighters arrived on the scene, while Dan Bragg, Ellery Center fire chief, said firefighters saw flames from three sides of the mobile home when they arrived.

Firefighters largely worked from outside the mobile home initially to get the fire under control before moving inside when the flames were out. Much of the mobile home’s outer siding was ripped off to ventilate the structure and make sure there was no fire hiding inside the walls.

“When I arrived on the scene there was fire showing from three sides of the trailer and blowing out all sides, so it was more of just protecting the surroundings,” Bragg said. “We’ve got a trailer that’s in the back corner over there. We pulled line right away to protect the surroundings. The fire really never got to the back end of the trailer, so that was protected.”

Initial reports indicated there may have been someone trapped inside the home, but Bragg said he was able to confirm there was no one inside the home. Two dogs were in the home and likely died in the fire.

A firefighter sprays water on the other side of the home. P-J photo by John Whittaker

“The family has young children,” Bragg said. “They lost everything. They’re going to need clothes and shoes.”

Fluvanna, Gery, Ellery Center, Sinclairville and Bemus Point volunteer firefighters all responded to the scene as did the Chautauqua County Fire Police. Chautauqua County fire investigators were called to the scene to determine the cause of the fire. There were no firefighters injured while fighting the blaze.

“When the first call came in we could see smoke showing,” Bragg said. “We called for tankers and manpower from three departments. We had plenty of manpower. Basically it was protect the surroundings and limit the damage as much as possible.”

More information about the needs of the homeowners and their children as well as any donation drives will be published as soon as it is available.

A firefighter sprays water inside the home. P-J photo by John Whittaker

Firefighters spray water inside a home as they try to extinguish a fire while also ripping siding off the mobile home. P-J photo by John Whittaker