MESA, Ariz. — One person was found dead Wednesday afternoon after a mobile home caught fire in Mesa.
Several people in the mobile home park near Main Street and Alma School Road reportedly called 911 as the trailer became engulfed in flames.
“It went from the smoke and it just, it flamed up quickly," Melissa Cole said. “I was yelling at the 911 operator, 'You have to get here now,' because it looked like it was going to start a fire into the other trailer.”
Mesa Fire Department said firefighters arrived quickly and contained the fire before it spread to other homes.
The person found inside the home is believed to be the only resident, according to Mesa Fire.
“There was likely mobility issues with the occupant of the home," Public Information Officer Marrisa Ramirez-Ramos said.
The victim's identity has not been disclosed by officials. It's not yet clear how they died.
Neighbors identified the resident as a man.
“He’s a good guy to talk to," Stephen Cooper, a neighbor, said. “Sad that a life was lost.”
One neighbor said the man was very quiet and spent a lot of time at home with his cats.
“Those were his kids. When he would come out, he’d brag about his cats and show us pictures. So, it’s really sad," Cole said.
This is the second mobile home fire Mesa firefighters have responded to so far this week.
“Smoke alarms really can save lives. If there is any doubt or inability to obtain a smoke alarm, there are several departments Valley-wide that offer free programs," Ramirez-Ramos said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
How big is Maricopa County?
Maricopa County is the United States’ 4th largest county in terms of population with 4,485,414 people, according to the 2020 Census.
The county contains around 63% of Arizona’s population and is 9,224 square miles. That makes the county larger than seven U.S. states (Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire).
One of the largest park systems in the nation is also located in Maricopa County. The county has an estimated 120,000 acres of open space parks that includes hundreds of miles of trails, nature centers and campgrounds.
The county’s seat is located in Phoenix, which is also the state capital and the census-designated 5th most populous city in the United States.
The county was named after the Maricopa, or Piipaash, Native American Tribe.
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