Tragedy strikes in Cave Junction, 57 year old Kendell Phillips died when his home caught fire and he went back in to rescue the family cat.
His wife Tammy survived the fire, while the cat was not found.
Rubble is all that remains of a mobile home at River Valley Village in Cave Junction.
“At about 2:15 this morning we responded to a structure fire on the 200 block of Ollis road,” said Robert Sitton from the Illinois ValleyFire District.
12 crews from the Illinois Valley Fire District responded to the blaze.
“Upon arrival, one occupant was accounted for, when we extinguished the fire we found the other occupant. He was deceased.”
Neighbors did not want to talk on camera but say the man did make it out but went back in to save his cat and never returned. Officials could not confirm those exact details.
While not much was salvageable they were able to determine the cause.
They say the homes air conditioning unit was plugged into an extension cord and sparked on fire.
“Extension cords aren’t made to carry that kind of load that an air condition unit needs, if people could remember plug it into something safe. Don’t use an extension cord for a more permanent fixture.”
Crews say they were able to contain the fire within about an hour and the home is a complete loss.
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