Family safe in Pioneer Road fire

A fire Wednesday morning at 1630 Pioneer Road in Washington County badly damaged the inside of a trailer, but a mother and two small children were not injured.

Chasity Dybdal said that she smelled smoke at about 9 a.m. and took her two children, ages five and one, outside the family trailer. "It didn;t smell like anything I'd ever smelled before," she said. Dybdal called 911 about the smoke and then saw flames. "I called 911 back and said they needed to bring the fire truck now," she said.

Wausau Volunteer Fire Department was already on the way and with the help of Orange Hill VFD and Sunny Hills VFD contained the fire. The fire appeared to be electrical in origin, according to Wausau firefighters, and started in the rear bedroom. The interior of the trailer suffered extensive fire, water and smoke damage, and the family lost most of their goods.

Neighbors had already brought food and drinks, Dybdal said, and Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers came to the scene. The Central Panhandle Chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting the family with temporary lodging, clothes, food and other assistance.

"Thak God we're all here," Dybdal said.