Woman escapes burning house trailer.

Woman escapes burning house trailer.

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

ROTHBURY — Melanie Thomas escaped unharmed from a burning house trailer at 7125 S. Driftwood Dr. in the Oceana Shores subdivision Wednesday, Sept. 2, around noon, but unfortunately her two dogs died in the blaze.

Thomas’ fiancé Juan Martinez was in the process of the renovating their home and was on his way back from the Rothbury Hardware store with supplies for his project when the fire ignited, he said.

Thomas said she was asleep and awakened to the smell of the trailer burning and saw heavy black smoke in the ceiling. “The whole top of the ceiling was filled with black smoke,” she said.

There are two boys, ages 7 and 12, who live in the home, but they were at school at the time of the fire, they said.

Martinez said the home is insured with renter’s insurance.

Grant Township Fire Chief Roland Brooks said the trailer and its contents are completely destroyed. Brooks has contacted the American Red Cross to assist the family with temporary housing, clothing and other necessities while they are displaced.

Martinez said he has lived in the home for approximately eight years.

Brooks said the fire appeared to have started near an electrical outlet.

Approximately 20 firefighters from Grant Township, Shelby-Benona and Montague Fire District responded to the scene. Life EMS and the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office also assisted.

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