A Keizer man perished in a fire that consumed a mobile home off Chemawa Loop Northeast on Sunday, March 3. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
A fire in a Keizer mobile home park claimed the life of a 62-year-old man Sunday, March 3.
Keizer firefighters were summoned to a mobile home fire at Rainbow Gardens Mobile Village, a 55+ Senior Living Community, at 5:44 a.m. Firefighters were on scene in four minutes and were summoned to the scene by neighbors calling 9-1-1.
Two residents — Mate Mezei, age 62, and his wife Maria Mezei, age 59 — were inside the home at the time of the fire.
Neighbors Dan Garcher, age 57, and his wife Linda Garcher, age 54, were awakened by a barking dog to the fire. The residence is a single-wide mobile home with an attached porch.
According to Keizer Police Department Deputy Chief Jeffrey Kuhns, Mr. Garcher went in to the burning house to try and rescue Mr. Mezei, but wasn’t able to as he was pushed back by the smoke and fire.
However, Mr. Garcher was able to rescue Mrs. Mezei from the home — both suffered serious injuries from the fire and were transported to the hospital by paramedics.
Mrs. Garcher also assisted Mrs. Mezei once she was out of the building.
One dog was lost in the fire and another dog was saved.
The cause of the fire is under investigation at this time in conjunction with the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Keizer police and fire agencies from Marion County Fire responded as well. More than 20 firefighters helped at this fire.
There was no indication of working smoke detectors in the home. Rainbow Gardens is located on Chemawa Loop Northeast.