HUMBOLDT — A mobile home was destroyed by fire, and the occupant taken to the hospital Thursday evening.
Humboldt Fire Chief Sean McReyolds said the house at 502 Bridge St. was fully engulfed when the call came in at 8:16.
The volunteer firefighters were at the scene within four minutes, and had the fire under control 13 minutes later.
While the house likely will be considered a total loss, the firefighters were able to fire contained to preserve some of its contents, McReynolds said.
Crews were able to take advantage of the home’s location, between a pair of hydrants, McReynolds said.
“The guys on the department did an amazing job of attacking it quickly, from multiple angles,” McReynolds said.
McReynolds declined to list the homeowner’s name, nor did he know his condition.
The man was in the home when the fire was reported, but had escaped the structure and was at a neighbor’s house when firefighters arrived.
A total of 12 firefighters and three trucks were on the scene, including a pumper truck used by the rural volunteer department.
The cause of the fire has not been announced.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the guys,” McReynolds said. “At that time of night, most everybody has settled in for the night. To have that kind of response, with that kind of effort, says a lot.”
The firefighters caught one break, McReynolds said, in that gusty south winds from earlier in the day had subsided markedly in the evening.
Crews also were able to prevent the fire from spreading to a nearby vacant church, a few feet west of the burning trailer.
