As snowflakes began to spit from the sky, neighbors gatheredoutside and watched as a Sunday evening fire destroyed a mobilehome in extreme western Lincoln County.

Officials from Loyd Star and Zetus volunteer fire departments saidthe fire broke out sometime before 6 p.m., and the trailer wasfully involved by the time the first firefighters arrived at 1792Nocona Trail. Luckily, the homeowner, Marvin Byrd, was not home atthe time of the fire.

“The home was unoccupied at the time of the fire, and when we goton scene it appeared to be fully involved,” said Loyd Starfirefighter Garrett Case. “We extinguished it as quick as we couldwith what we had.”

Zetus officials said the first units on scene from Loyd Star, Zetusand New Sight VFDs began an exterior attack through the frontwindows, working their way to the back of the trailer. However, thestructure was too far gone to save.

“I know the wind played a factor in it burning as quickly as it didfor sure, even though a mobile home is going to burn fast anyway,”said Zetus President Grady Case. “There was no danger to thestructures near it unless the wood would have caught on fire. Theguys from Loyd Star got there quick.”

Officials said the trailer and its contents were a totalloss.

“We did have the back side of the car catch on fire and weextinguished that also,” Garrett Case said. “Everybody did a goodjob getting together and working on the task at hand.”

Firefighters contained the blaze and remained on scene putting outhot spots until about 8:30 p.m.

Grady Case said he was told on scene that the fire may have beenstarted by a kerosene heater that was in the home, but that there’sno way to tell without an investigation.

Officials said an investigator will be called to conduct a routineinvestigation to determine cause and origin.