PHOTOS: Fire Guts Most of Mobile Home

Murrieta firefighters helped a woman and her daughter salvage what was left of their belongings Thursday after a

A woman in her 40s or 50s lived alone in the double-wide at on Ivy Street, but her daughter also had possessions stored there.

One Murrieta firefighter handed at least a few guitars still in their cases to a tearful 20-something daughter, while photographs and trinkets were brought out to a table.

As the frantic mother attempted to enter the home to retrieve anything salvageable, Murrieta fire Chief Matt Shobert had to ask her to stay back.

"We are salvaging as much property as we can," said Shobert, who estimated the damage to be between $50,000 and $75,000 worth.

A Toyota pickup parked in the driveway of the home appeared to have smoke and fire damage to its front end.

Two local Red Cross volunteers arrived shortly after the fire broke out to assist the women with their immediate needs.

A trauma intervention volunteer also came to help.

Shobert said four fire engines carrying 15 firefighters arrived to put out the fire.

"It was 50 percent involved upon arrival," Shobert said. "We are two blocks away so they were on scene within minutes."

A resident of the mobile home park described the neighborhood as a family of friends. She said her 13-year-old son spotted the fire and rushed in to tell her.

The cause of the fire was initially believed to be "improper disposal of smoking materials," Shobert said.

The fire may have started on a side porch, he said, near where the Toyota was parked.

Park residents gathered in small circles for at least an hour as firefighters continued to retrieved smoke- and fire-damaged items from the home.

Red Cross volunteer Nico Lievense said the women would be offered a hotel stay for up to three days, as well as basic necessities such as clothing and food.

"We are here to provide for their immediate needs," Lievense said.

They would then be referred to other agencies, he said.