One injured in Cape Girardeau mobile home park fire

One person was injured and a dwelling destroyed after at least eight oxygen tanks intensified a fire at a Cape Girardeau mobile home park Wednesday night.

Firefighters responded to the blaze at a mobile home park at 555 Spring Ave. shortly before 6 p.m. When they arrived they found a mobile home engulfed in flames. Radio traffic described flames shooting 20 or more feet into the air.

One person was treated for moderate injuries after being burned in the fire, which destroyed one mobile home and damaged another. Eight oxygen tanks exploded during the fire, and firefighters' initial assessment was that a cigarette started the fire.

All four Cape Girardeau fire stations responded, and the blaze was quickly extinguished, assistant fire chief Mark Hasheider said.

"Those oxygen tanks make for one hell of a fire," Hasheider said.

Park resident Raymond Ourgh said he thought the explosion was thunder, but when he went outside he saw the mobile home on lot No. 42 engulfed and called 911.

"I just heard a loud boom and asked my wife if it was thundering out," he said.

Pertinent address:

555 Spring St., Cape Girardeau, MO