Davis Creek Mobile Home Fire Claims Mother of Four: ; Woman Remembered As Good-Hearted Person

Summary

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A 30-year-old mother of four who was killed in an early morning fire Monday was called a good-hearted person by one of her friends. Melinda Wade Davis was staying with Phyllis Permelia, 74, at the older womans Davis Creek mobile home when it caught fire about 1 a.m. Monday, said Pam Dunlap. Dunlap, 48, of Cross Lanes, is Permelias daughter. Davis was married to Dunlaps nephew, she said. She was just a real good person, Dunlap said. She really loved her kids, her husband and her family. Were really going to miss her. Davis had been staying with Permelia in the Middle Fork Road mobile home for a couple of months, Dunlap said. The older woman woke up early Monday and noticed smoke but was unable to get Davis out of the home. She tried to get help from her son, who lives next door. The man was unable to enter the trailer because of heavy smoke and flames, Dunlap said. Firefighters from the Davis Creek Fire Department arrived at the home about three miles up Middle Fork Road just 10 minutes after receiving the initial call, Fire Chief Jeff Snodgrass said. The fire was spreading quickly through the mobile home when they got there. Flames were pouring through the bedroom window where the victim was sleeping. We knew on arrival that we had confirmed entrapment, Snodgrass said. Our guys attempted to make an entry into the trailer for a rescue, but it was just too hot. They retreated and attempted to douse the flames that were consuming the mobile home. It took firefighters about 20 to 30 minutes to extinguish the blaze. Firefighters then entered the mobile home to find the victim, who Snodgrass would not identify since he had not received a positive identification from the state medical examiners office. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, Snodgrass said. It was a really bad fire, he said. Officials with the state Department of Health and Human Resources said they had not positively identified the body as of Monday afternoon. The agency handles public information for the state medical examiners office. No other injuries were reported, but the mobile home was a total loss, Snodgrass said. Authorities believe the fire started in the bedroom where the victim was sleeping. The exact cause of the blaze has not yet been determined but is under investigation by the state fire marshals office. It is not thought to be suspicious in nature, he said. Along with the Davis Creek Fire Department, firefighters from the Loudendale, Alum Creek and Jefferson departments also responded. Davis children were not staying with her at the time of the fire, Dunlap said. The family friend was unsure if arrangements for Davis had been finalized.

BILLY WOLFE/DAILY MAIL Melinda Wade Davis, 30, was killed in a fire that tore through this mobile home on Middle Fork Road early Monday morning. The home was a total loss.

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Davis Creek Mobile Home Fire Claims Mother of Four: ; Woman Remembered As Good-Hearted Person

BILLY WOLFE/DAILY MA...

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