CERES – A person has died after being found by firefighters inside a shed during a fire in Ceres late Monday night.
The Ceres Fire Department says units responded to the Lazy Wheels Mobile Home Park at E. Whitmore Avenue and Highway 99 a little after 11:30 p.m. for reports of a mobile home fire.
At the scene, first responders found that a shed, a car and a trash can behind the mobile home were on fire. Crews quickly put the flames out.
During overhaul, however, is when firefighters say they found a person inside the shed. The person was pronounced dead, authorities say.
Fire investigators and Ceres police are now investigating. Exactly what started the fire is also under investigation.
City of Ceres calls for action from state
Tuesday afternoon, Ceres city leaders gathered by the shed to share their frustrations with what they're calling negligence from the state.
They say residents of Lazy Wheels Mobile Home Park are in unlivable conditions, and they want that to change.
City Manager Doug Dunford noted those living in the 25 mobile homes inside Lazy Wheels park have been living without running water or electricity.
"They have not had water since 2017, so they've been having to use bottled water," Dunford said. "Then, a few months ago, Turlock Irrigation District had to shut off the power because they couldn't pay their bills."
Ceres Mayor Javier Lopez says the issues were brought to his attention in 2021.
Lopez said the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) enforces regulations and inspects mobile homes throughout the state, which means the city and county have no jurisdiction over Lazy Wheels park.
"The State of California basically told our office that we're hands off, that we couldn't touch it, we couldn't do anything about it," Mayor Lopez said.
City leaders say enough is enough.
City Councilor Rosalinda Vierra said HCD visited the park just 15 days before the fire.
"HCD came out and didn't even cite them and felt that this is reasonable for families with even small children to live in," Vierra said. "Just seems unacceptable."
Dunford said the residents of Lazy Wheels Mobile Home Park "deserve better."
"So it's either the state come in and find these people some places to live or give us the jurisdiction to help these people," he said.
Ceres city leaders told CBS Sacramento that the state told the county to help clean up the mobile home park on Monday before the fire. We reached out to the county for confirmation but have not heard back. We also reached out to HCD but have not heard back.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Ceres city leaders call for state action after person dies in mobile home park shed fire )
Also on site :
- Taylor Swift Subtly Supports Kylie Kelce After Birth of Baby
- Israeli attack on UNRWA clinic kills 22 people, including baby
- Kelly Ripa and Husband Mark ‘Aging Like Fine Wine’ in Sun-Kissed Photo