Fire caused extensive damage to two manufactured homes in Mathews in separate incidents over the past week.

A Thursday morning fire at a residence on Cobbs Creek Lane in Cobbs Creek likely started in a receptacle in the living room where a Christmas tree was plugged in, said Mathews Fire Chief Todd Wilson.

The family was not at home when the fire started sometime between 7 and 8 a.m. on Dec. 1, he said. A passerby saw it and called 911.

When the first engine arrived at the scene less than five minutes after the call came in, there was already heavy fire, said Wilson. Around a dozen firefighters in six engines and a truck responded and quickly brought the fire under control, he said, but the fire had already gutted the inside of the home.

Firefighters returned to the scene twice over the next two days when the fire rekindled, said Wilson. It was discovered that a second floor had been installed over the original one, and fire had gotten between the two layers of floor and had contin...