By Roger H. Aylworth
Chico Enterprise-Record
CHICO, Calif. — A Chapman neighborhood blaze Friday left the residents of a modular dwelling at 916 Wisconsin St. homeless.
Six Cal Fire-Butte County engines and a Chico Fire Department engine responded to the fire that was reported at 9:54 a.m.
When the first firefighters arrived, thick, noxious plumes of gray smoke billowed from windows, the roof and sub-flooring of the home.
Incident commander Cal Fire-Butte County Battalion Chief Dan Summerville described the blaze as a "deep-seated fire."
The smoke smelled like plastic burning, a condition Summerville said was characteristic of a modular home fire.
Despite the heavy smoke in the home, which belongs to Leon Harris, no flames were visible from the outside.
Summerville said the fire was in the walls, the crawl space between the roof and ceiling, and under the floor.
Had this been a traditional stick-built home, explained the commander, he would have put firefighters on the roof to cut ventilation holes to allow the smoke to escape.
However, given the location of the flames and the construction of the modular dwelling, Summerville said it was too dangerous to put firefighters on the roof.
Instead, he opted for "horizontal venting," using powerful fans to try to blow the smoke out of the house, while firefighters wearing breathing apparatus battled to reach the flames.
There were no injuries in the fire.
Janet Upton, Cal Fire-Butte County public information officer, said the fire was caused by an electrical problem.
Damages were set at $100,000 to the home and $40,000 to its contents.
Upton said the Red Cross was called in to help the residents find temporary housing.
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