We will update this story as soon we learn more.
ELKHART, Indiana, March 12, 2019 — More than 40 firefighters are battling a blaze at Forest River Plant 59, located in the 400 block of County Road 15.
The plant, which makes Vibe trailers, was at the end of shift and was nearly empty, according to Elkhart Fire Chief Chad Carey, and only 5 or 6 employees were in the plant at the time of the blaze; all managed to escape. Usually about 60 employees work there, but work for the day was winding down.
Carey said firefighters were called to the fire about 3:45 p.m. and first responders reported flames coming through the roof of the structure.
He said employees reported hearing several small popping noises and went to investigate in the front of the plant building and discovered the fire. He added that all got out safely.
Dylan Phillips was driving on Toledo Road more than a half mile from the plant when he said he saw a large amount of black smoke coming from the plant area.
“It looked like a bomb went off,” Phillips told the South Bend Tribune. He turned around and stopped to see what the smoke was about, he said.
He said he did not know what caused the fire. The Forest River plant manager had been on the scene, he said, and the investigation would begin once the fire is out.
SOURCES: South Bend Tribune, WSBT-22 and the Goshen News
Verrrryyy, interesting… And Forest River is in the middle of several recalls, too? Sounds like a “steer clear of Forest River” situation to me.
Excuse to run a “Fire Sale”???
Agreed. Something smells fishy here. Insurance money to cover other losses, due to repeated recalls? See the Forest River “Tour” video? Still shots? That’s not a “video tour”. They build these “ So Fast!” No wonder they have so many, constant recalls. Quality does not happen with speed production.
This article has a seriously overstated, sensationalistic headline. Way overboard. The plan was not “totally destroyed”. One building was. Also, the building did not “explode”, it caught fire. There may have been some explosions in the resulting fire, but the fire did not result from an explosion. There is quite a difference in both these issues.
The reports we read regarding that fire in 2019 did say that the “plant” was destroyed and declared a “total loss.” The reports also stated there were explosions, but the cause was undetermined. Maybe there were later reports that clarified the information we had read. Take care. 🙂 —Diane at RVtravel.com
I have to agree with Tom. A fire is not an explosion.
The title has been amended. Thanks, Jeff, and others who commented on this. Take care. 🙂 —Diane at RVtravel.com