An American Dream goes up in smoke

[DSteiner51]

Approximately three weeks ago a local RVer lost her husband. She decided to get away in the Motorhome that she and her husband enjoyed for a number of years together. Yesterday morning she left west bound on US 30 and made it to Mansfield (approx 35 miles) where she had engine trouble. The tech was called and it was determined she had gotten contaminated fuel.

She decided that the local (approx 2 miles south of her home) truck shop that her husband had used for the service work in the past would be the best place to get the service done. She called the local towing company (approx 4 miles west of her home) to get it towed back to Wooster.

While towing the motorhome back, the tow truck driver noticed smoke coming from the right side in his mirror and pulled over to see what was up. The inner duel had apparently gone flat and the tire went up in flames as soon as he stopped.

Right front, not much noticeable damage.



She said I could go inside to take pictures. She and her son spent all this morning attempting to salvage what they could and said they were done inside and just had the outside storage compartments to do.



Taken from the top of the entry stairs. I didn't want to get my riding jacket sooted.



Picture taken thru the right side wall of the rear bedroom. I asked if it would be ok to take a picture as it was too high to see in and she said, "sure, you can go inside as we are done in there and take any pictures you want." "We just got the outside compartments to unload."



The fire moved thru the axle area to the left side and into the engine compartment.



It goes to show one needs not go far from home for catastrophe to strike.

[Pangaea_Ron]

Lots of assumptions here, but... I would assume that the weight on the rear wheels would actually be reduced when towing. Depending on where the tow point was attached (on the frame forward of the front axle?), the dead load would proportionally move forward towards the new tow point from the rear axle, thus marginally reducing the weight on the rear axle. Other stresses are probably involved while towing that are more complex than mere dead loads.

[noe-place]

Assuming this A had dual rear tires; when raised by the tow vehicle the weight on the rear was increased. With this added weight the sidewalls of the rear tires possibly "ballooned" enough to make contact with each other and as the tow truck moved down the highway they rubbed together long enough to catch fire from the friction and spread to the MH before anyone noticed. Just my observation from the pics and comments.

[DSteiner51]

Mocoondo wrote:
Not doubting the OP's reporting, but it seems rather strange that the LF slide is open. A fire of that nature would surely compromise wiring, thereby preventing the electrical system from energizing the slides.

One would think that the fire had to begin while the unit was parked somewhere in order for the slide to be open. Towing a coach of that size down the highway with the slide open would be absurd.

I wasn't there until this afternoon and didn't ask many questions. All I know is what mostly she, and her son volunteered. They said they had been working all morning unloading stuff so if you know better, fine, I will not add to their comments so I'm out of here and you can fill in the details as apparently you know more.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

I look at it a little different. No body hurt, nobody dead.

Have a little chat with the tow company's insurance and buy a new MH. All is good again. 🙂

[Randu]

Mocoondo wrote:
Not doubting the OP's reporting, but it seems rather strange that the LF slide is open. A fire of that nature would surely compromise wiring, thereby preventing the electrical system from energizing the slides.

One would think that the fire had to begin while the unit was parked somewhere in order for the slide to be open. Towing a coach of that size down the highway with the slide open would be absurd.

Its amazing what will continue to work. Fire was mostly at back and slide out motor is below the slide protected. House Batteries maybe in lower mid section and controls in front part. I don't doubt for a second that the slide works. Randu

[wa8yxm]

Sad. nice rig. I wonder what the tow company did wrong that flattened that tire.

Oh, I have a vacancy in the co-pilot position.. Expierenced RVer might fill the seat.

[Macktee]

To those wondering about the slide being open. I am sure it was done manually, after the fire was extinguished. Macktee

[Mocoondo]

John&Joey wrote:
Last spring I stopped off for a few days at an RV (mostly Class A) salvage yard in Carthage, MO. I WAS AMAZED AT HOW MANY WERE BURNT!!! There were 100's of dead MH with 1/3 to 1/2 having some fire damage.

Didn't matter gas or diesel, cheap or spendy, old or new, they all burnt. Most were in the kitchen area the rest in the rear. Very few had damage up front, not even the gassers.

Check your smoke detectors, and keep a fire extinguisher handy.

Two weeks ago, I saw a new(ish?) Class C go up in flames at the CG I was staying at.

They were servicing the LP and on this particular model, the LP tank was located directly below the exterior panel for the refrigerator.

Apparently, the owners failed to shut off the refer before CG staff started to refill the LP. CG staff followed their procedure and turned off the LP at the tank before starting to service the LP. This starved the fridge of LP and the flame extinguished. At this point, the fridge did what any other fridge in LP mode would do: it began the re-ignition sequence...tick tick tick tick....When CG staff started venting the tank, BOOM. The entire right side of the coach went up. The fire rapidly spread up the interior wall at the fridge vent. The whole thing was involved in less than a minute. Of course, this was all immediately adjacent to the coach entry door, so the entire family, who were inside the coach at the time, were trapped inside. They eventually all piled out through the driver's side door.

A lot of mistakes were made in this case, but suffice to say, it was very scary to witness. These things really do go up in a heartbeat.

[John_Joey]

Last spring I stopped off for a few days at an RV (mostly Class A) salvage yard in Carthage, MO. I WAS AMAZED AT HOW MANY WERE BURNT!!! There were 100's of dead MH with 1/3 to 1/2 having some fire damage.

Didn't matter gas or diesel, cheap or spendy, old or new, they all burnt. Most were in the kitchen area the rest in the rear. Very few had damage up front, not even the gassers.

Check your smoke detectors, and keep a fire extinguisher handy.

[dspencer]

skipnchar wrote:
I have to tell you that I, for one REALLY feel for the lady. This is the 3rd anniversary of my wifes passing and in our discussions about "what if" she had indicated that she hoped she could continue traveling with our RV if I passed away first. Didn't happen that way but it would break my heart to think of her in a similar situation. Hope her insurance policy was set up right but it can't restore her memories she made with her husband while in that RV.

My gosh Skip, i remember reading about your wife passing when it happened and it sure doesn't seem like 3 years. I hope your doing well. Yes this situation is truly sad i i hope that poor lady is able to get back to what she enjoys soon.

Doug
KCMO

[Mocoondo]

Not doubting the OP's reporting, but it seems rather strange that the LF slide is open. A fire of that nature would surely compromise wiring, thereby preventing the electrical system from energizing the slides.

One would think that the fire had to begin while the unit was parked somewhere in order for the slide to be open. Towing a coach of that size down the highway with the slide open would be absurd.

[skipnchar]

I have to tell you that I, for one REALLY feel for the lady. This is the 3rd anniversary of my wifes passing and in our discussions about "what if" she had indicated that she hoped she could continue traveling with our RV if I passed away first. Didn't happen that way but it would break my heart to think of her in a similar situation. Hope her insurance policy was set up right but it can't restore her memories she made with her husband while in that RV.

[azdryheat]

Wonder why the front slide was extended? Actually surprised the slide would still work.

[rockhillmanor]

This sure is a tragic loss, but on the up side thank God it happened on the back of the tow truck and not while they were driving it.

Have to ask if anyone knows. When you lift up the front of a MH that size and weight to tow it, it sure must put a ton of weight on that rear axle. If the tow truck driver lifted it 'too high' would that have put 'more than the acceptable weight' on the rear axle?

I saw a Monaco being towed at a high rate of speed down the interstate where they had it up so high the stainless steel mud flap was shooting sparks and burning up the surrounding rubber part of it and the side of the MH. 😞

[Pangaea_Ron]

How tragic.

I passed a Patriot Thunder MH on a trailer last weekend heading East on I-90 in Eastern WA that was in a similar condition.

I don't ever want to experience a MH fire.