Camping trip at Potato Creek cut short by trailer fire

By ERIN BLASKO, Tribune Staff Writer

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Liberty Township volunteer firefighters extinguish a trailer fire at Potato Creek State Park in North Liberty

Tribune Photo/JANAR STEWART Liberty Township volunteer firefighters extinguish a trailer fire at Potato Creek State Park in North Liberty on Thursday, July 3, 2008.

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Jul 4, 2008 at 6:54 AM EST

Story Updated: Jul 4, 2008 at 5:24 PM EST

NORTH LIBERTY — A Niles couple and their grandchildren had their holiday weekend cut short Thursday evening when their trailer caught fire at Potato Creek State Park.

Susie Jeschke said she and her husband were trying to pull a couch out into a bed inside the trailer about 8:30 p.m. when a piece of the couch caught a lamp cord and sparks flew, igniting the underside of the couch.

The trailer quickly filled with smoke and then became engulfed in flames, Jeschke said.

Liberty Township Volunteer Fire Department responded to the blaze and quickly extinguished what was left of it. Liberty Township emergency personnel and St. Joseph County police assisted.

Friday, Jul 18 at 4:35 PM Tammie wrote ...

I felt very badly for your family as we were watching the fire. I am so glad everyone is ok.

Monday, Jul 7 at 1:33 PM Camping question wrote ...

i dont understand camping...seems like a lot of people who want to look rich in a trailer park.

Monday, Jul 7 at 11:17 AM Daughter/Mom of campers wrote ...

As my husband said, Thank You to all the really wonderful people who helped my parents and my children when their camper caught fire. My parents (Grandpa and Grandma) should be very proud of how they responded to this, first their quick thinking and saving all of their lives and by following it up with very positive attitudes considering they lost a part of their life style they love. We had a great cookout at our house the next day to help lift their spirits a little higher.

Monday, Jul 7 at 10:01 AM The kids' dad wrote ...

Thanks to everyone for your help. My wife, 2yr old and I left 2 hrs before this to evacuate our fridge in MI as our main house was w/o power. The 2yr old otherwise might have been in the camper sleeping, w/ A/C on. Again, thanks for all your help, Gram & Gramp said a lot of people rushed to their aid.

Sunday, Jul 6 at 8:05 PM Vesper wrote ...

Just so everyone knows... That green & tan Tent in the pictures is ours.. There were other tents that almost caught fire and without the quick thinking of the guys next to this camper removing them, the two large propane tanks would have taken out a lot more property.(Though one small tank did explode) I was second on scene and the fire had already engulfed the back room. Went from small flame to fully engulfed in a matter of 3-4 minutes. Glad the kids were in the tent!

Sunday, Jul 6 at 3:48 PM goshen wrote ...

Well, to be completely technical...they are TRAVEL TRAILERS....

Sunday, Jul 6 at 1:25 AM Disturbed wrote ...

No technically an RV is a type of camper that you drive, a trailer is hauled by another vehicle and can be used for either sleeping or transporting and a Mobile Home is what you find in trailer parks

Saturday, Jul 5 at 11:53 PM Roscoe wrote ...

Thank you Synthia, oh queen of trailer parks for pointing that out so eloquently. What a daisy you are!

Saturday, Jul 5 at 8:13 PM pm reader wrote ...

hello... a rv is a trailer... u must not know alot about camping...

Saturday, Jul 5 at 2:15 PM Synthia wrote ...

They DO NOT allow TRAILERS in potato creek state park. They do however allow RV'S. Potato creek is not a trailer park.

Friday, Jul 4 at 8:50 AM Joe wrote ...

Thank Goodness that they were camping in the middle of a field (Potato Creek Camping) so nothing else was damaged.

Friday, Jul 4 at 7:12 AM c wrote ...

Glad no one was hurt

Friday, Jul 4 at 7:07 AM Anonymous wrote ...

that sucks

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