MATTAWA - The Rafael Rodriguez family, which suffered the loss of their home by fire four days before Christmas, were still without a home at mid-week last week.

One of the obstacles is city regulations regarding mobile homes not located in mobile home parks. If one burns to more than 50 percent of its value, it must be replaced by a new or unlicensed model.

According Jeff Gallacci of the LDS Church, which is attempting to help the family of five, good used mobile homes in the $20,000 range have been located. But there is no new mobile home the Rodriguezes can afford.

The Rodriguezes first heard of the regulation at the city council meeting of Jan. 2. City planner Darryl Piercy explained that Chapter 17 of the city code requires mobile homes not located in mobile home parks to either be new or unlicensed, and there is no provision for a variance.

Under the non-conforming section, there appeared to be a liberal interpretation of the rule, but City Attorney Katherine Kennison made it pretty clear at the meeting on Jan. 16 that the rule was hard and fast.

The only way around the rule, City Clerk Robin Newcomb said, would be a complete change of the rule. She said that would take time and that council does not seem to be disposed to making a change.

The best option, for now, appears to be the "unlicensed" option. According to Newcomb an unlicensed home is one that has never left the lot as new and therefore has never been licensed.

An example of an unlicensed home would be a mobile home that is being used for sales offices at a mobile home lot. It could be a few years old but still considered a new model because it was never sold.

The Rodriguez lot at 103 Second St. is ready for a new home. With the help of LDS church members, the burned-out home was cleared within a couple of days of the fire.

The fire occurred on December 21 around 2:30 p.m. while the Rodriguez family was sitting down to a meal.

It was engulfed by the time Grant County Fire District No. 8 firefighters arrived.

According to the fire department's Dave Patterson, the fire started in an electrical panel.