Man escapes injury in early morning fire in Weippe Thursday

A 19-year-old man escaped injury in an early trailer fire at Durant's Trailer Park in Weippe, according to Clearwater County Sheriff's Office.

On July 1, 2021, at about 6:45 a.m., Clearwater County Deputies, Weippe Fire Department, and Clearwater County Ambulance Service-Weippe, responded to 620 W Pierce Ave.; #5 (Durant's Trailer Park), in Weippe for a structure fire.

It was reported, a trailer house was on fire. The residence on fire turned out to be a fifth wheel trailer. The fire only involved one trailer, and a Russell R. Finnell, 19, who was inside the trailer sleeping when the structure caught fire. Awakened only by someone banging on his door, Finnell was able to escape the flames without injury, CCSO reported.

Weippe Fire Department was able to contain and extinguish the flames without further damage to the rest of the trailer park. The fifth wheel was a total loss, the cause of the fire is still under investigation, CCSO said.