Damage estimates reach $40,000

EPHRATA — Fire completely destroyed a double-wide mobile home early Sunday, just as the resident was finishing the process of moving out, authorities reported.

Grant County Fire District 13 Chief Shane Heston said the Ephrata residence, at Wagon Wheel Mobile Home Park in the 1700 block of Road "A" Northwest, was completely destroyed.

Heston said the homeowner, Julie Welsh, was not inside when the blaze started, but some of her belongings remained in the home and were burned. No injuries were reported, he said.

Heston said the fire likely started on the north side of the structure. Fire crews were called about 2:20 a.m., arriving minutes later to find the home engulfed in flames.

A damage estimate to Welsh's home reached $40,000.

The Grant County Fire Marshal is investigating the fire.

Fire Marshal Dave Nelson said today his office has not determined a cause of the blaze.

Firefighters kept the blaze from destroying a neighbor's residence, which saw flames damage a carport and rain gutters, Heston said.

About 20 firefighters from the district and the Ephrata Fire Department were on the scene for approximately two hours, the chief said.