Mobile home fire kills woman, dog.

Byline: Ben Fuchs The Register-Guard

DEXTER - A woman and her dog were killed early Saturday in a fire that engulfed a Dexter Road mobile home, the Lane County sheriff's office said.

The Dexter Fire Department was called to the Dexter Oaks Mobile Home Park just before 6 a.m. When firefighters arrived, smoke was pouring out of the unit at 38965 Dexter Road, Space 12, according to Dexter Fire Chief Guy Harshbarger. He said flames were leaping from the home's back bedroom window. No other buildings were threatened.

Firefighters entered the home and quickly contained the fire to the back bedroom, where they found the woman, whom Harshbarger described as middle-aged. The dog was also found there.

Harshbarger said neighbors had pounded on the door and windows in an attempt to alert the victim before firefighters arrived but fled when the heat and smoke became unbearable.

The victim is believed to be the roommate of the home's owner, who arrived after working a night shift, the sheriff's office said. The woman's identity had not been released Saturday night pending confirmation by the Lane County medical examiner.

Dexter residents said the fire - which was the first fatal blaze since 2001 - was the talk of the town Saturday night.

"People are kind of shocked about it," said 16-year-old Jennifer Harris, a waitress at the Dexter Lake Club. She said a number of customers had asked about the fire.

Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fire or the cause of the woman's death. A total of 17 firefighters responded to the blaze, Harshbarger said.