Cherry Lane mobile home destroyed by fire; responders able to save nearby residence

SOMERSET, Pa. – A Cherry Lane Estates mobile home was destroyed by flames late Tuesday – and threatened to consume a neighboring residence, responders said.

But crews from five departments were able to douse the Gary Lane blaze before it destroyed the second dwelling, Somerset Fire Department Safety Officer Dave Sube said.

An investigation was underway into the cause and source of the fire, which was classified as “undetermined” Wednesday by Somerset Police.

But police recognize the fire occurred in a mobile home park that was the location of a string of arsons in 2018 and 2019.

“Right now, we don’t know what caused this (fire),” Somerset police Acting Chief Rich Appel said, “but out of an abundance of caution, we’re asking anyone living in that area, traveling through that area, working or visiting that area to be vigilant and report anything suspicious they might see.”

A state police fire marshal is assisting to determine the fire’s cause, which is a typical move when extensive damage occurs to a structure.

Until the fire marshal reports findings back to Somerset authorities, the blaze will remain undetermined, he added.

Sube said Somerset’s firefighters were called to the scene just before 10:45 p.m.

They arrived to find an unoccupied mobile home nearly destroyed and the flames threatening to ignite a nearby home, he said.

Crews had to focus their attention on the second home, dousing it with water and using a defensive attack to control the fire, Sube said.

A male residing in the nearby home was able to evacuate without injuries, he said.

Sube added that the home received some damage, particularly from smoke, in the rear of the trailer.

The mobile home that was fully involved appears to be a total loss, he said.

He said the residence appeared to be “pretty much empty,” and it was not immediately clear how long the residence was unoccupied.

Appel encouraged anyone with information that might assist authorities in the investigation to contact Somerset police at 814-445-4596.

Somerset, Listie, Friedens, Sipesville and Rockwood volunteer fire companies, and Somerset EMS were dispatched to the scene.