Fire Burns Through Portion of Centralia Home

Fire burned through a portion of a home in the Golden Estates mobile home park at 1918 Harrison Ave. Monday morning.

"There was a pretty significant explosion," said Jason Schrader, who was driving by when he noticed smoke and flames and stopped to call 911 at about 11 a.m.

No one was injured in the blaze, which appeared to have started in the garage. Neighbors said they believed a propane tank had ignited and exploded, but Riverside Fire Authority officials had not determined an official cause as of early Monday afternoon.

The fire destroyed a Volkswagen car parked inside.

Tom Brown said he was standing outside when he saw smoke and flames shooting out of his neighbor Ed Branam's home.

"He was in the back of the house and it was on fire before he knew it," Brown said. "He ran outside and and I told him I already called 911."

"During the confusion, the gentleman tried to go back in the house," Schrader said. "I told him it's not even worth it."

Branam had just returned to his home after taking his wife to work at Kmart. Linda Branam returned from work and stood on the street with tears streaming down her face as she watched her home burn.

"It's our house we just paid off on April Fools Day," she said.

Helen Brown stood in her lawn wearing a pink house coat and slippers as she watched fire fighters extinguish her neighbor's home.

"I was afraid to go back in," she said.

"She was really scared," said her husband Tom Brown. "She just ran outside with just her pills. She didn't even grab her purse."

The Browns moved their cars away from the Branam house to prevent the fire from spreading.

"I'm lucky the cinder didn't catch my house on fire this morning," said Tom Brown.

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Amy Nile: (360) 807-8235