Just after 12:30 a.m. Friday, August 26th, several Pope County Rural Fire Departments responded to a structure fire on Cherokee Loop Lane in Moreland’s fire district.

Prior to their response, a neighbor called 911 and reported to dispatch that her neighbor’s house was on fire. She advised the dispatcher that the home was a trailer and she believed the fire was electrical because her electricity began to surge, then she noticed smoke coming from her neighbor’s residence. She stated that all three occupants of the trailer had evacuated the residence and were outside.

Pope County 911 operators dispatched the Moreland Fire Department, Crow Mountain Fire Department, and the Appleton and Pea Ridge Fire Department to the structure fire located at 249 Cherokee Loop Lane. As firefighters checked en route to the call, deputies with the Pope County Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene and advised dispatch that the trailer was fully involved. They also stated that the fire was threatening a neighboring mobile home, a vehicle and a wooded area nearby.

Once firefighters arrived on scene they made a fast attack on the fire and began to knock down the flames that consumed the mobile home. Once the fire was determined to be under control, firefighters used a wench on Appleton’s brush truck to pull the sheet metal roof from on top of the burning debris to begin extinguishing what remained of the fire.

As firefighters fought the blaze, Entergy officials arrived on scene to disconnect the power. While accessing the meter to the house, officials observed what was described as 12/2 electrical wire coming from the meter box. Upon further investigation, the 12/2 wire was connected to an outdoor extension cord and plastic bags were covering the section where the two were connected. It was also observed that the meter box had been opened and the wiring inside the box had been tampered with. They then discovered that the electricity was being supplied to the trailer by using the wire and cord.

Entergy and fire officials on scene spoke to the occupants about their findings and the occupants stated that someone was sent to the property earlier in the day to “perform some electrical work.”

While working to disconnect the power, the extension cord used was discovered to be frayed and burnt. Due to the findings of the compromised meter box and the condition of the extension cord, it is believed to be the cause of the fire.

Despite the efforts of firefighters, the mobile home and all of its contents were destroyed. Firefighters were able to protect the vehicle and the mobile home that had been threatened, but the occupants lost all of their property that was inside the trailer.

At 2:30 a.m., the fire was determined to be extinguished and at that time, firefighters began packing up equipment. A short time later, command on scene was terminated and all fire units returned to their stations available for service.

The attached photos and the following video were captured from the scene.

Just after 12:30 a.m. Friday, August 26th, several Pope County Rural Fire Departments respon…

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