Fire destroyed this W. Richland family’s home. Their neighbors are coming to the rescue

Residents of a manufactured home park in West Richland are working together to help a family left homeless by a fire.

Benton County Fire District 4 personnel went to the family’s home around 1:30 p.m. on the 6800 block of James Street in the Desert Hills Manufactured Home Community near Tapteal Elementary School.

Fire officials weren’t sure at the time what started the fire.

Initial reports suggested some kind of explosion went off at the home. Neighbors of the home posted on Facebook that it was the oxygen tanks of one of the residents catching on fire and exploding.

Everyone inside the home got out safely, officials said.

The home appears to be mostly destroyed.

Residents of the community started posting to the park’s Facebook page to help the family, which includes a baby girl.

A neighbor said the family is staying with a neighbor down the street while they figure out what to do next.

This story was originally published July 18, 2018 at 2:12 PM.