Black Star Canyon : Mobile Home Fire Causes Confusion After Being Mistaken for Helicopter Crash

Fire in a mobile home in the remote area of Black Star Canyon, located in the eastern part of the county, caused a brief flurry of activity Thursday when fire officials first were told that a helicopter had crashed and burst into flames, authorities said.

County Fire Department Battalion Chief Bernie O’Neil, who was at the scene of the fire, explained that Southern California Edison Co. is using helicopters in the area while installing electrical equipment. “But no helicopter was involved,” he said.

Someone probably noticed a helicopter flying in the area before it disappeared behind a hill, then saw the smoke rising and assumed it was the helicopter, Fire Department spokeswoman Patty Range said.

Flames gutted a double-wide mobile home and one car, but another car parked behind it appeared to be unharmed.

The cause of the fire, which broke out shortly before noon, is unknown, fire officials said. No damage estimate was immediately available.

The owner of the mobile home has not been positively identified, but fire officials said their initial investigation indicated that the home was not occupied at the time of the fire.

“But we cannot say for sure,” Fire Department public information officer Patrick McIntosh said.