KANSAS CITY, Kan. — For RVers, leaving an RV in a dealership lot usually feels safe—but late Tuesday night, that sense of security vanished when a Camping World RV lot fire destroyed 11 RVs at the dealership at 1201 N. 98th Street in Kansas City. Around 11:35 p.m., KCKFD crews were called to a report of a fire in the parking lot.
When firefighters arrived, they found 11 RVs fully engulfed in flames, parked close together. The fire was intense enough that crews had to call in mutual aid from Bonner Springs, Edwardsville, and Fairmount (Basehor) fire departments.
Camping World RV lot fire puts responders in defense mode
Adding to the danger, several propane tanks exploded, forcing firefighters to fight the fire from a distance. “The crews battled the fire defensively,” officials said, taking every precaution to avoid injuries. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the blaze was still dramatic enough to require multiple departments and defensive tactics.
The fire was brought under control in about an hour, though the cause remains under investigation. At this point, a dollar loss on the RVs has not yet been determined. For the RVer community, that’s a chilling reminder of how quickly disaster can strike, even in a “secure lot”.
Some thoughts for RVers
The incident underscores the hazards associated with propane and the importance of spacing RVs safely. While customers have little say in how close rigs are parked together at a service center, this fire is a stark reminder to ask about safety protocols, and double-check the status of your insurance coverage. When considering RV storage facilities, spacing might be something you could figure into the equation.
It’s one of those stories that hits close to home for RVers: 11 RVs destroyed in a single night, explosions that could have been tragic, and the relief that no one was hurt. Updates on the cause and financial impact are still pending.
Source: Fox 4 Morning News
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RVT1234b
Sad for the owners of these units – awaiting repair or whatever. fortunately no fire fighters were hurt in this dangerous propane exploding environment. Interesting to know what touched it off – a refrigerator left on, lithium batt., elec wiring, rodents….?