Fire destroys two mobile homes, displaces seven people in Cathedral City

With tears in his eyes, 12-year-old Ricardo Torres Jr. could only watch as flames ripped through his parent’s two cars and the home he and his three younger siblings grew up in at the Sky Ridge Mobile Home Park in Cathedral City Thursday.

“My parents said to get out. There was lot of smoke everywhere. I just ran, got my little brother and ran out,” he said.

Cathedral City Fire Chief Eric Hauser said the flames jumped to the Torres home after first sparking at their next door neighbor’s unit around 2 p.m. A disabled man who lived inside that mobile home, had to be pulled out to safety by neighbors and we’re told is OK.

“It’s not being brave, it’s what you do. You see a fire and a human, the flames on one side and him on the other end, just reaction,” said neighbor and park assistant manager Keith Meyers.

The Torres family hoped to salvage anything they could from the burnt mobile home. Firefighters worked through the rubble to find Mr. Torres’ wallet. Drenched and charred, but sure enough, they got it.

Hauser said it took firefighters from the Cathedral City and Palm Springs stations about 45 minutes to put out the fire.

The American Red Cross worked to bring some comfort to the family affected, providing them a hotel room and money for food and clothing for a few days.

“The good thing is everyone is alright, that’s all that matters,” said neighbor Alicia Gastelum, 16.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Hauser said witnesses saw the flames coming from the water heater closet of the disabled man’s home.