By LANCE MIHM and SHELLEY GRIESHOP
By LANCE MIHM and
SHELLEY GRIESHOP
newsdept@dailystandard.com
ST. MARYS -- A St. Marys woman died and her husband was injured in a mobile home fire that broke out shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday. The body of Rose Parkison, 47, was found in the master bathroom of the Columbia Square Trailer Park home at 200 N. New Knoxville Ave., lot 8. She was pronounced dead at the scene by Auglaize County Coroner Dr. Thomas Freytag. An autopsy is pending.
State Fire Marshal Investigator Dennis Cummings said the fire has been ruled accidental, although the investigation is continuing.
"I cannot rule on the exact cause at this time, interviews are still taking place, Cummings told The Daily Standard this morning.
There were no smoke detectors in the home, Cummings added. The fire originated in the master bedroom.
Parkison's husband, Charles, the couple's three children and two neighbor children who were staying overnight fled the burning home, Cummings said. Charles Parkison, was treated then released at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, St. Marys, for smoke inhalation. The children were not injured.
The Parkison family leases the double-wide manufactured home from owners Rick and Jill Reck of Bradford. The home was reportedly uninsured.
The St. Marys Township Fire Department responded to the fire at 8:19 a.m. Firefighters found heavy smoke and flames coming from the northeast corner of the home upon their arrival.
The family and the two visiting children were asleep at the time the fire began, St. Marys Township Fire Chief Stan Brown said. Charles Parkison reportedly smelled smoke and woke his wife who was sleeping in the couple's bedroom on the north end of the home. He next woke up the children who were asleep in two other bedrooms and the living room.
After retreating from the home and realizing Rose Parkison was not outside, Charles Parkison and neighbor Jack Jones apparently attempted to get back into the trailer. The men were forced to retreat halfway to the bedroom as the extreme heat and smoke forced them back outside.
The fire department report said that 10-year-old Angie Parkison returned inside the burning structure to retrieve the two visiting children -- Christina Vogt, 7, and Beth Vogt, 2. The Parkisons other two children were identified as David, 16, and Shannon, 13.
Sixteen firefighters and three trucks from the St. Marys Township Fire Department responded to the fire. The St. Marys City Fire Department provided mutual aid with one engine, nine men and an emergency squad.
The American Red Cross was alerted and is helping the family with temporary housing and needs such as clothing.
The home was a total loss with a damage estimate of $75,000, Cummings said. |
