Seeley Lake volunteer firefighters responded to a motorhome fire on Gull Port Monday morning around 11:30 a.m. While the fire did damage the car trailer parked close to the RV, firefighters kept it from spreading to the house that was within 20 feet of the blaze. Pictured: Captain Shawn Ellinghouse pulls the first hose for a quick knock down while the other volunteers arrive and get suited up.
Volunteer firefighters cool the inside of the car trailer while another team of firefighters worked on extinguishing the motorhome.
The back of the motorhome after the car trailer was pulled away from it and most of the heat was extinguished.
SEELEY LAKE – Seeley Lake volunteer firefighters responded to a motorhome fire on Gull Port in Seeley Lake Monday, May 16 around 11:30 a.m. The fire was contained to the motorhome and a large enclosed car trailer. No one was injured.
When Incident Commander and Seeley Lake Rural Fire District Captain Shawn Ellinghouse arrived at the residence, the back of the RV was fully involved. He was told there were also flames inside the car trailer.
The first engine to arrive started suppressing the flames on the back of the RV. After cooling the RV, suppression efforts shifted to the car trailer after the firefighters were told it had gas reservoirs along with a car, motorcycle and other tools.
Ellinghouse was also told that there was a propane tank inside the RV. After entering the motorhome, they found out the tank was towards the middle and the fire had not reach it.
When the second engine arrived, they hooked it to the first engine to maintain the water supply. After more volunteer firefighters arrived, they strung another hose putting one crew on the RV and the other on the car trailer.
"They were both pretty high priority between the RV and the trailer," said Ellinghouse. "That was our number one goal was to keep the flames from getting to [the propane tank and the fuel in the car trailer]."
They were able to cool the car trailer faster than the RV. A crew was sent into the RV to mop up any heat. The fire was contained within 20 minutes of arriving on scene.
More than a dozen volunteers responded manning three engines, a 3,200 gallon water tender and the ambulance. Ellinghouse estimated that they used less than 1,000 gallons of water to extinguish the fire.
The cause is still under investigation. No foul play is suspected.
Reader Comments(0)