Trailer parks are at a greater risk of destruction by burning, with the death rate for victims of mobile home fires nearly double that of site-built houses. When a fire starts in one home, it can easily spread to the cluster of homes around it, and before long, the entire park is engulfed in flame and smoke.
Mobile home fires almost always occur due to a neighbor’s negligence or a landlord’s failure to provide a safe living environment. Failure to take care of property and appliances can lead to a mass loss of homes, belongings, or, tragically, a loved one.
Despite a small percentage of the U.S. population living in trailer parks, the danger of mobile home fires is significant. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) established stricter standards in 1976 to improve the safety of manufactured homes. While the standards led to modest gains, deadly mobile home fires are still an issue.
Mobile Home Designs Burn Easier
Mobile homes are built to be portable. Their small sizes, lightweight, and raised supports — beneficial for moving — unfortunately also mean that fires can quickly spread and burn through a trailer within minutes.
Trailers tend to sit on platforms, with the crawl space underneath covered by a decorative wood skirting. When the material catches fire, it can rapidly spread to the flooring and exterior of the home. If the burning floor collapses, it can cause catastrophic damage to the home and anyone trapped inside.
Mobile homes may contain aluminum, a lightweight metal with a low melting point. When the aluminum supports, siding, and roof are superheated, they can melt and collapse.
Georgia Ranks Fifth for Mobile Homes
There are nearly 400,000 mobile homes in the state of Georgia, with an estimated 70,000 in the Metro Atlanta area (AJC, 2017). Some of these homes were built before the safety standards of 1976 came into effect, meaning they are more susceptible to degradation and accidental fires.
Injured in a Mobile Home Fire?
If you or a loved one were injured or killed in a trailer park fire, contact our personal injury lawyers at Gary Martin Hays & Associates. With a proven track record and more than 30 years of experience, our attorneys have successfully represented victims of fires against greedy insurance companies and careless landlords.
No matter where you live in Georgia, we are just a phone call away. Contact our law offices at (770) 934-8000 today for a free consultation regarding your personal injury case.
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