PG Fire Chief says rash of Moccasin Flats blazes not intentionally set

The Lower Patricia encampment better known as Moccasin Flats has seen nine structure blazes since the May long weekend according to the PG Fire Department.

Fire Chief Cliff Warner told MyPGNow.com that eight of the 17 tiny homes donated to homeless residents in that area have gone up in flames.

Warner told MyPGNow.com there was one specific call that kept crew members busy.

“Of those nine units that we have reported on, three of them happened in one instance. Crews are able to respond quickly, they were able to knock them down pretty quick, and put a focus on exposures and preventing from exposing other risks.”

He added the latest blaze occurred early Monday morning when crews extinguished the fire involving a tiny home near the middle of the camp.

Warner added the house was fully involved by the time fire rescue arrived.

“There were no identified occupants and once they were completed, they returned to the hall.”

When asked what his biggest concern is regarding the rash of fires, Warner stated it all points to the fact we are still in a drought.

“The biggest change that has happened or the one that I could foresee is the fact we have moved into an extreme drought compared to other years. It’s been worse and we are monitoring and keeping an eye on that – obviously the cooler, wetter weather has helped us for the current days.”

To make matters worse for the area, Warner confirmed none of the houses are insured meaning no forensic tests can be done by fire investigators. However, at this point, there isn’t a reason to believe all or most of the blazes have been set intentionally.

“There is nothing for us to suggest these are intentionally set – it’s just an odd occurrence for something that guides us down a path to suggest there is a reason to look into them but at this point, they are individual fires that happen. They have just happened on a more regular basis than we have seen in the past.”

“Compared to what we have typically seen in that area, we don’t know the act or omission as to what is causing these fires to happen. They have been primarily undetermined and there is two of them that happened in those counts that occupants were trying to stay warm or burning something that was unapproved.”