A man living on Apache County Road 3040 got out of his burning home Tuesday morning, June 9 with just his pants, the shirt on his back, and shoes that were in his truck.
The cause of the fire that started around 7 a.m. is unknown at this time.
Vernon Fire District firefighters arrived on scene just 22 minutes after a man and his girlfriend who live very nearby on ACR 3039 called it in to 911.
Shortly after that firefighters from the St. Johns Fire Department, the Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District and the Springerville Fire Department arrived to provide assistance.
Because of the dry conditions, the wood building and piles of surrounding debris, the fire went up quickly sending a plume of black smoke into the air. The trailer and the property owner, “Dana” was still shaken and did not want to provide his last name.
As the intensity of the fire grew, pops from exploding ammunition in the home along with propane bottle explosions could be heard.