Accidental Cigarette Disposal Blamed For Green Mobile Home Fire

A fire in a single-wide manufactured home at the Evergreen Village Mobile Home Park in Green was ruled accidental after investigators determined it was most likely caused by improperly discarded cigarettes, according to Central Douglas Fire & Rescue.

Crews were dispatched at 11:06 a.m. Monday, March 2, to a reported structure fire on Apricot Lane after neighbors reported flames coming from windows. Firefighters arriving on scene found heavy black smoke venting from the rear of the home and flames showing from the front.

Central Douglas Fire & Rescue said the fire was knocked down and fully extinguished within about 10 minutes of crews reaching the scene.

CDF&R responded with three fire apparatus and two command units, totaling 10 paid and volunteer personnel. Umpqua Valley Ambulance and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office also responded. Deputies were involved because of initial concerns that the fire could be criminal in nature, and CDF&R noted the home’s occupant had been arrested in Roseburg in an unrelated incident.

After an investigation by CDF&R personnel with assistance from the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office, the cause was classified as accidental, with improper cigarette disposal cited as the likely ignition source.

CDF&R urged residents to extinguish and dispose of cigarettes in appropriate containers filled with sand or water, and to keep smoking materials away from anything that can burn.