Mail Tribune News - Woman's condition improves

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2000-05-27

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Woman's condition improves Her mobile home was destroyed in fire By JESSICA SMITH A White City woman who escaped her burning mobile home over the weekend remained at Rogue Valley Medical Center, Wednesday, where she was being treated for smoke inhalation. Mildred Schreiber, 75, was upgraded to fair condition and moved out of the hospital's intensive care unit. Meanwhile, investigators have determined that a short in an electrical wire or stereo component caused the blaze that destroyed Schreiber's home at 3601 Avenue C early Saturday. Rodney Edwards, a Jackson County Fire District 3 battalion chief, said investigators found the cause of the fire Monday, after looking at several possibilities. "We considered other things, but we were able to rule those out based on where the fire started and the path it took," Edwards said. About 12:30 a.m. Saturday, fire broke out along the front of Schreiber's mobile home, a double-wide 1970s model. It spread quickly and the flames reached Schreiber's vehicle, which was parked near the front of the structure. Edwards said Schreiber was led from the burning home by neighbors who were awakened by the flames and smoke. "She's very fortunate," he said. "Those neighbors saved her life." But firefighters weren't able to salvage Schreiber's home, or save the dozen or so cats she had living with her. Officials have buried at least 12 cats since Saturday, Edwards said. "The mobile home is a total loss and I think you could say the same for the majority of the contents," he said. However, personal belongings such as Schreiber's purse, some jewelry and family photos were retrieved. Edwards said heat generated by the fire also damaged two adjacent mobile homes. A damage estimate was not available Wednesday. Mail Tribune Copyright �  The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA