Wiring problem sparked Metolius house fire

A problem with electrical wiring beneath the front steps apparently sparked a fire that heavily damaged a Metolius home while the owners were away at a church funeral, authorities said Tuesday.

Losses are estimated at $22,500 to the structure and $15,000 to the contents of the double-wide manufactured home of Roland and Pamela Swearingen at 346 SW Dover Lane, said Tom Jaca, assistant chief with Jefferson County Fire District No. 1.

More than a dozen firefighters responded to the blaze reported shortly after 4 p.m. Sunday. Jaca said there was heavy smoke and heat damage to the interior and contents.

Two cats perished but two others were rescued — one revived with use of oxygen — and a dog also survived, he said.

A neighbor called dispatchers shortly after 4 p.m. to report a fire in the double-wide manufactured home at Metolius Mobile Manor, Jaca said.

“The people who lived there smelled smoke about two hours prior,” Jaca said, “but they didn’t really pay a lot of attention to that. Then they left and went to church, and their home caught fire while they were away.”

There are about 30 or more other homes in the park, but Jaca said crews kept the fire in check “and it didn’t gt large enough that other structures were threatened.”

“The fire was knocked down rather quickly,” he said, but there was a lot of heat and smoke damage throughout the structure. Crews were on scene for about three hours, making sure the firet was out and doing their investigation.

Two cats perished in the blaze, the fire official said, but firefighters saved a dog and two other cats from the burning home, one that was revived by Jefferson County EMS medics.

There were no other injuries, Jaca said. The American Red Cross has stepped in to help the fire-stricken couple with lodging and other needs.