Three die in mobile home fire

Monday, March 16, 1998 | 9:37 a.m.

Lyon County sheriff's deputies said home owner Michael Hallgren, 51, was already dead when a passerby pulled him from the 4:51 a.m. blaze in this community 40 miles southeast of Reno.

The badly burned bodies of an unidentified man and woman were found in the debris by firefighters after the flames were extinguished, deputies said.

The three probably were asleep and died of smoke inhalation before they could exit the double-wide home, sheriff's Cpl. Richard Matheus said.

"It only took from three to five minutes for it to burn down," he said. "When mobile homes go, they go."

Dental records will be needed to determine the identities of the other two victims since they were so badly burned, Matheus said.

Authorities believe one of the unidentified victims is Hallgren's wife and the other is a friend, he said.

Cause of the fire was unknown. It was under investigation by the state fire marshall, although officials said it did not appear to have been deliberately set.

The home was located six feet behind Hallgren's Sports & Spirits & Minnow Trap Tavern on U.S. Highway 50, but the bar escaped damage.

The mobile home was fully engulfed in flames by the time firefighters arrived and reduced to ashes a short time later.

"It was pretty much gone by the time firefighters arrived," Matheus said. "The fire burned it down to its frame."

But firefighters arrived quickly enough to save the bar, he added.

An autopsy will be performed on the bodies Monday to pinpoint the cause of death.