IRONTON, Ohio (WSAZ) -- Ohio residents are four times more likely to die in a fire inside a mobile home or manufactured home than any other type of house. That’s why Gov. John Kasich is asking that the state take over the oversight of those from a board controlled by the industry.

Stacey McGowan lives down the street from a woman who died in a mobile home fire last summer.

"It was right here," as she points to the empty spot at 2201 N. 7th Street.

McGowan still remembers the fire.

Her fiance and others pulled Rachael Vulhop, 64, out of the trailer on July 5. McGowan even did chest compressions. But Vulhop died later.

"It's amazing how something can be there one minute and gone the next."

McGowan and her family of five have lived in a mobile home for three years. It’s not really by choice. But low income and credit problems mean, for now, a traditional home is out of reach.

"Fire, weather, it's definitely unstable because you never know what can happen because they are cheaply made,” she said.

She tries to be careful with extension cords, especially since fire investigators say that's the likely culprit for her neighbor's fire.

Because of a bad thermostat relay, she has to flip the fuse at the circuit breaker to turn her heater off and on.

"It's scary. You can get electrocuted anytime. You never know, anything could go wrong in the wiring or catch on fire. It's definitely not safe."

Ironton Fire Chief Mike Mahlmeister said when it comes to fighting a fire in a mobile home, even in a small town, firefighters are usually forced to just contain the flames to the structure and keep them from spreading.

"Minutes and seconds mean a lot," he said. "Manufactured homes, they go up. There's nothing stopping it."

But he adds they are inherently safe, especially newer ones.

Kasich is asking lawmakers to move the state's Manufactured Homes Commission, which oversees mobile homes, to the Department of Commerce, the same agency overseeing the Fire Marshal's office.

The Commission issues licenses for mobile home park operators, trains installers and inspects new installations.

The governor's office says it's a conflict of interest that an industry association nominates most of the people on the Commission.

But critics say expertise is essential and the fire marshal's office doesn't have the experience it needs to regulate the industry.

But Mahlmeister said, while it can be a bit of a political issue, he would like to see oversight from an agency whose first priority is safety.

"I would love to see those changes," he said.

McGowan agrees. She's trying to do some home renovations herself and is for anything that will make her and her family more safe.

"Maybe they can put it all together and make it a lot better."

Mahlmeister said an even better move would be to require all mobile homes to have smoke detectors. Currently Ohio law only requires homes built since 2006 to have them.

"That would be a big boost to help us in saving lives."

Ironton currently has some free ones to give away to residents.

Mahlmeister advises people in other areas to call their local department.