Published: February 24, 2009 09:20 am      

Fire destroys trailer

By Samantha Swindler / Managing Editor

West Knox Volunteer Fire Department responded to a fire on Dixon Drive near Gray on Monday, where Shawn Messer lost his trailer home.

Firefighters were called to the scene shortly before 1:30 p.m.

“As soon as the pager went off, you could look in this direction and see heavy smoke,” said firefighter Jack Partin. “They had a pretty substaintal fire as soon as we got the call on it... It was definitely fully involved.”

Messer said he owned the trailer but rented the lot on which it stood. He said no one was home when the fire started, and he learned of the fire after his landlord called him at work.

At the scene, Messer helped firefighters move hoses and watched as they battled the blaze.

“I use electric heat, I don’t know if it was that... I had a little trouble with the wiring, I had put new boxes in, I’m not sure what it was,” Messer said.

The trailer was a total loss and firefighters tore down some of the walls to reach smoldering areas of the fire.

Messer said he didn’t have insurance on the home.

Bailey Switch VFD also responded to a mutual aid request to provide an additional tanker.