Manassas officials evacuate 14 people from mobile home deemed unsafe

On Monday March 5, 2012, Fire Marshals from the City of Manassas Fire and Rescue Department assisted by officers from the Manassas City Police Department, and an Inspector from the city’s Property Maintenance Code Enforcement Office executed a Fire Inspection Warrant at 9021 Centreville Road Lot 5 in the East End Mobile Home Park.

The warrant was obtained by Fire Marshals based on information that was provided to them which alleged that the mobile home contained several fire-safety code violations that created an imminent threat to the safety of the occupants and nearby structures, according to a news release.

The mobile home is owned by Paul Edward Perdue who was present during the fire inspection, the release said.

Fire Marshals found 14 people living in the approximately 700 square foot structure and numerous fire code violations, according to Francis J. Teevan, Manassas Fire Marshal.

Fire safety violations included discarded smoking materials onto the carpet and mattresses, piles of combustible material that blocked the windows in the bedrooms and boarded windows in the kitchen that limit the only way out of the mobile home to the front door which was also partially blocked and not able to be fully opened, overloaded electrical outlets and exposed electric wiring, holes in the roof and walls, five propane cylinders that were being used illegally as fuel for the kitchen stove, six gasoline cans, three kerosene cans, and a gas tank from a boat, the news release said.

There were no working smoke detectors in the structure, Teevan said. The mobile home was declared a fire hazard and deemed unsafe for human occupancy.  The 14 occupants were provided information on nearby shelters if they needed a place to stay, he added.

All of them declined to use a public shelter and went to stay with relatives or friends.  Two cats were removed from the mobile home and taken to the City’s animal shelter.  A large fish tank containing six fish was removed by their owner and relocated to a nearby residence, according to a report from the city’s fire and rescue department.