Frazee-Area Fire Destroys Mobile Home, Leaves Residents Without Shelter

A devastating fire on Sunday, Jan. 12, destroyed a single-wide mobile home in Silver Leaf Township, about three miles east of Frazee on Highway 87.
A passerby reported the fire at 5:15 p.m., and when firefighters arrived, flames were already coming through the roof. Frazee Fire Chief Adam Walker said, “It took a while for us to establish that no one was inside,” but eventually confirmed that the 61-year-old resident was safe. A mixed-breed dog, however, was inside the home and was quickly rescued by firefighters.
The mobile home, owned by 86-year-old Catherine Bachman, was being used by her daughter Christine, who is recovering from a massive stroke, and her daughter’s boyfriend. Bachman said, “It’s been tough for her. After the stroke, her puppy passed away, and now this fire. They say bad things come in threes—hopefully this is the end of it.”
The home, which was not insured, is considered a total loss, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Challenging Firefighting Conditions
Battling the fire proved difficult due to minus-20-degree wind chills and the fire’s advanced stage. Crews from Frazee, Detroit Lakes, Perham, and Wolf Lake worked together, ferrying 33,000 gallons of water from a city hydrant at the Frazee Fire Hall. Firefighters spent six hours on the scene.
Chief Walker extended gratitude to the assisting departments, saying, “It takes a special kind of person to fight a fire like that on a Sunday night in those conditions.”
The boyfriend, who owns the rescued dog, is staying with his son temporarily. Bachman, who herself has a fractured foot, is in the process of relocating her daughter to a rehabilitation facility in Barnesville.
Local organizations and neighbors are encouraged to assist the family during this challenging time.
AP Citation:
“Fire Destroys Home Near Frazee,” Nathan Bowe, Detroit Lakes Tribune, January 13, 2025.