The members of St. Tammany Fire District 7 were called on to help one of their own Monday afternoon, when a mobile home belonging to one of the group’s volunteer firefighters went up in flames.

It happened at about 4:30 p.m. at the home of James Howell, a 10-year veteran of the department. Howell’s parents, who live next door, called it in after they spotted smoke coming from the trailer, located at 69452 Racehorse Road.

According to Assistant Chief Perry Junek, investigators are still working to pinpoint the cause of the blaze.

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“It looks like it may have started in the living room,” said Junek. “He didn’t have any candles in the place, so it may have been electrical, but we just can’t tell right now.”

Howell, who is employed by Nate’s Trucking, lived in the trailer with his fiancé and her daughter. No one was home at the time, and Howell said all his years of training “went out the window” when he responded to the call.

“I’ve put out a lot of fires, but it’s hard to do when it’s your own home,” said Howell.

This is the second home Howell has lost to catastrophe. His first mobile home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina’s winds in 2005. Living on modest income, he and his fiancée purchased a used trailer to save money, but found most insurance companies were unwilling to insure the unit. Most of their belongings were either burned completely or damaged by smoke, so the couple was unable to salvage much save for some clothes.

One painful casualty was Howell’s seven-week-old Chihuahua puppy, a recent birthday gift.

As he was sifting through the wreckage Tuesday morning, he discovered the body of the tiny dog under the couple’s bed.

“He was right where I thought he would be,” said Howell, choking back tears. “He always came in there with us when he was scared.”

An older dog, also a Chihuahua, is still missing.

Howell and his extended family will stay with his parents for the time being, and will soon begin receiving assistance from the Red Cross.

Chief Junek said his crew will do “whatever we can” to help.

His fellow firefighters remain heroes in Howell’s eyes.

“Those guys I work with, they worked hard to put that thing out,” he said. “I know they did everything they could.”

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the family may stop by the firehouse, located at 73469 Louisiana Highway 41 in Pearl River. For more information, call 863-5111.