Manufactured House fire in Atkins, Iowa is a total loss, leaving a family homeless
Posted: Jan 10, 2015 8:45 PM EST Updated: Jan 10, 2015 8:45 PM EST
The Atkins Fire Department along with four other area fire departments responded to a fire at a mobile home park early Saturday morning.
Shredded siding, wrecked windows, and charred cars, are all that's left of the home, in Benton County.
"I was just coming home last night, I saw the fire coming out of the top of the back trailer," said neighbor Dakota Simpson. "Knocked on the door to see if anybody was home, nobody was answering
Scary moments for Dakota Simpson when he noticed the manufactured home at the Country Aire Trailer Courthome up in flames.
He says he continued knocking as he called 911 because he knew the family had two kids, and he was afraid for them.
Simpson says he was afraid, but now grateful the family of four was not inside.
Anne Sposato, a family friend says when the fire broke out, the family was out enjoying family time.
Firefighters from five different departments were called to put out the fire.
Saturday afternoon, more than 15 hours later the home continued to burn and crews were forced to come back to control the hot spots.
"Sure is devastating for them. Hard to see everything they've worked for all these years gone," said Sposato. "They probably have not idea where they're going to live, how they're going to rebuild their business because they own the limousine business."
There were two adults and two children lived in the home.
Atkins Fire Department says the house is considered a total loss, and the cause is under investigation.