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Diplomat_St_Poo's avatar
Diplomat_St_Poo
Explorer
Feb 16, 2020

Motorhome fire at Holtville hot springs LTVA

We are camped at Holtville hot springs LTVA near Calexico CA. On Friday this Safari MH started on fire. According to the owner on scene it started in the Norcold fridge. The fire department pumper truck arrived in about 15 min but at that point it was basically to keep it from spreading to the nearby trees.

Sad for the owners from British Columbia. The wife was the only one inside when the fire started. She told me that she heard a buzzing and her check fridge light had come on, she reset it but the noise continued and she turned off the fridge. That’s when she noticed the smoke. She grabbed her purse and passport and got out. Within a few minutes it was burning hard.

I took this picture about 10 min after it started. Just when the first responder arrived. Good thing was no one was hurt. They hauled the remains out yesterday. The fire department was called back again because the trees near it were still smouldering.



What remained after the fire department left.

Class A
  • atsrmf's avatar
    atsrmf
    Explorer
    Feb 16, 2020
    I carry 2 fire extinguishers, coincidentally replaced one yesterday due to its age.
  • Ranger_Smith's avatar
    Ranger_Smith
    Explorer
    Feb 16, 2020
    Another Norcold fire. That refrigerator should be outlawed. So much for that little black box safety recall . . . If it had one
  • Diplomat_St_Poo's avatar
    Diplomat_St_Poo
    Explorer
    Feb 16, 2020
    Ranger Smith wrote:
    Another Norcold fire. That refrigerator should be outlawed. So much for that little black box safety recall . . . If it had one


    Well that may have been an issue. The owner, although shell shocked, said they had the “kit” but had not installed it yet.
  • Ed_Gee's avatar
    Ed_Gee
    Explorer II
    Feb 16, 2020
    Atsrmf - two fire extinguishers may well not be enough. I saw an RV fire start in our RV park several years ago. Neighbors all grabbed their extinguishers...... at least six were used Plus one water hose......after several minutes of intense work they managed to extinguish the beginning fire. I don't think two fire extinguishers would have come close to doing the job.... Owners were not home....but the neighbors also saved the little dog inside.....
  • atsrmf's avatar
    atsrmf
    Explorer
    Feb 16, 2020
    Back in the 80s I had a Class A engine fire while driving along I-75 in Tennessee. A fan wire had been pinched by the doghouse when it was closed. We managed to put the fire out by pouring beer on it (Michelob), it took 5 out of 6 cans. Any size fire extinguisher would have been pricesless at that time, so I carry 2 now. I was able to get the engine running and drove the rest of the way to Ohio.
  • dougrainer's avatar
    dougrainer
    Nomad
    Feb 16, 2020
    Diplomat_St_Poodles wrote:
    Ranger Smith wrote:
    Another Norcold fire. That refrigerator should be outlawed. So much for that little black box safety recall . . . If it had one


    Well that may have been an issue. The owner, although shell shocked, said they had the “kit” but had not installed it yet.

    1. NOBODY knows for a fact what caused the fire and IF it was the Norcold refer that was the cause. It could have originated from an LP leak in the refer area.
    2. Norcold DOES NOT send recall kits to retail customers. The recall has been out for over 10 years.
    3. The RV'er was AWARE OF THE FACT AND REFUSED TO HAVE HIS REFER UPDATED. The fact he had the kit, shows his responsibility to have it installed.
    4. It is sad they have this horrible problem, but people have to be responsible for there inaction to install recall parts.
    5. The unit is over 20 years old and NOBODY knows the history or repair of the systems on this RV. It could have had a dirty burner or nests in the back of the refer that caught fire when it lit on LP. It could have had an LP leak that caught fire from a previous repair that was NOT to spec when the LP section was not secured correctly. Doug
  • Executive45's avatar
    Executive45
    Explorer III
    Feb 16, 2020
    Doug, what you've said are all truisms. However, it's also well documented that Norcold fridges have a history of 'issues'. Does anyone know when we get our next check from them???...thanks...Dennis
  • Diplomat_St_Poo's avatar
    Diplomat_St_Poo
    Explorer
    Feb 16, 2020
    dougrainer wrote:
    Diplomat_St_Poodles wrote:
    Ranger Smith wrote:
    Another Norcold fire. That refrigerator should be outlawed. So much for that little black box safety recall . . . If it had one


    Well that may have been an issue. The owner, although shell shocked, said they had the “kit” but had not installed it yet.

    1. NOBODY knows for a fact what caused the fire and IF it was the Norcold refer that was the cause. It could have originated from an LP leak in the refer area.
    2. Norcold DOES NOT send recall kits to retail customers. The recall has been out for over 10 years.
    3. The RV'er was AWARE OF THE FACT AND REFUSED TO HAVE HIS REFER UPDATED. The fact he had the kit, shows his responsibility to have it installed.
    4. It is sad they have this horrible problem, but people have to be responsible for there inaction to install recall parts.
    5. The unit is over 20 years old and NOBODY knows the history or repair of the systems on this RV. It could have had a dirty burner or nests in the back of the refer that caught fire when it lit on LP. It could have had an LP leak that caught fire from a previous repair that was NOT to spec when the LP section was not secured correctly. Doug


    I agree Doug, I certainly would not jump to any conclusion. I was only relaying what the owner said to me, and what happened just prior to the fire. I asked her if they had had the upgrade done and thats what she told me. I know that we had a recall notice on our Dometic fridge and the fix was done by a dealership.

    The Safari looked in good condition but you are correct, you never know how things are maintained.
  • naturist's avatar
    naturist
    Nomad
    Feb 16, 2020
    I think we can all be glad no one was injured. While the property loss is unfortunate, that no lives were lost is a blessing.

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