A motorhome fire on a Yuma, AZ, roadway ended up in a place no one expected: a family’s backyard.
Authorities say a Class A motorhome caught fire while traveling on an elevated roadway Monday evening, March 2, then veered off the pavement and traveled down an embankment before coming to rest just feet from a home below.
Video from the scene shows flames pouring from the RV as smoke billowed into the neighborhood. When firefighters arrived, the motorhome was fully involved in flames.
Despite the dramatic crash and intense fire, no injuries were reported.
Firefighters race to save nearby home
Crews responding to the call found the motorhome engulfed and burning dangerously close to the residence.
“At that point the motorhome is a write-off,” one fire official said at the scene. “Our focus becomes protecting the house.”
Firefighters concentrated on containing the blaze and cooling nearby structures while neighbors rushed in to help prevent the flames from spreading.
The home suffered heat damage. Residents reported melted outdoor containers and a window that shattered from the intense heat. But the structure itself was saved.
For the family inside, the scene unfolded in seconds.
“I heard something coming down the hill,” the homeowner told reporters. “I thought it hit my house.”
Moments later, smoke and dust filled the backyard.
Burning RV rolls down embankment
Authorities say the motorhome caught fire while traveling along a raised roadway near South Pacific Avenue and Calle Primavera in Yuma.
At some point during the fire, the vehicle left the roadway and traveled down a dirt embankment toward homes below.
The RV eventually stopped on the slope behind the residence. Photos from the scene show the coach burned down to its skeletal frame, with only the aluminum structure of the walls and roof remaining.
Officials say the driver fled the scene but was located later that day. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Why RV fires spread so quickly
For RV owners, the scene in Yuma illustrates something safety experts have warned about for years: RV fires can escalate extremely fast.
Unlike automobiles, motorhomes contain large amounts of combustible material packed into a relatively small space. Cabinets, insulation, wiring, plastics, and fabrics can feed flames once a fire starts.
Investigators say common causes of RV fires include:
- engine compartment fires
- electrical failures
- overheated brakes or wheel bearings
- refrigerator malfunctions
- fuel system leaks
Once flames enter the interior of the coach, a fire can grow rapidly. By the time firefighters arrive, many RV fires are already fully involved.
What to do if your RV catches fire while driving
Safety experts recommend several immediate steps if a motorhome catches fire on the road:
Pull over immediately.
Continuing to drive can allow flames to spread more rapidly and damage critical components.
Shut off the engine and evacuate.
Get everyone away from the vehicle and move a safe distance upwind.
Use a fire extinguisher only if the fire is small.
Many RV fires grow too quickly for portable extinguishers to control.
Call 911 right away.
Most RVs carry one or two extinguishers, but fire investigators often recommend keeping an extinguisher within reach of the driver’s seat, not just in the galley area.
A close call for one Yuma family
For the residents of the Yuma home, the burning motorhome came frighteningly close to causing far greater damage. The RV stopped only yards from the house, where flames scorched nearby vegetation and sent heat against the structure.
Neighbors and firefighters managed to contain the fire before it spread further. Residents later described the outcome as nothing short of a miracle.
The investigation into the incident is continuing.
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RVT1251b
This is one of my biggest fears along with a rapid loss of air (blowout) of front tire. Sad situation for all concerned here; but glad no one was injured or worse. Keep the refrig. dept. clean and do not use it on the road – period! Be sure to level it! I would like to talk to, or hear the drivers/owners side of this incident as to what happened. Difficult situation for driver to control while moving. Brake fire blow a tire? So many possibilities. I hope all concerned were well insured.
If that rig “rolled down the embankment” as stated, it sure held its shape quite well. Although not as sensational to report, I’m thinking it merely traveled down the embankment and in between the two houses….
Hi, Vince. I think it “rolled down the embankment” on its wheels.🤔 When I proofed it, I couldn’t figure out how to reword that, but your suggestion of “traveled” sounds good, so I changed it. Thanks! Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
My apologies Diane, I wasn’t suggesting a change. I’ve just never heard of a Class A having walls after they roll much less a roof. Still scary as blazes!
No apologies necessary, Vince. I also had wondered why it was still intact if it had “rolled” down the hill like I visualized it. So I was glad for your suggestion to clarify it. And I’m still wondering why the driver ran away. I looked for an updated story this afternoon but couldn’t find one. Anyway, thank you for your comment/suggestion! Have a good night.🤗 –Diane
Thank you for sharing the story, Russ and Tina. Seems as though all were rather fortunate things did not go much worse. Also may be a great potential advertisement for a Proteng, or similar, fire-suppression system. They are expensive and I am uncertain if RV #2 willl have a successor. Until that determination is made, I will invite disaster by not adding fire suppression. Have a great weekend and safe travels!
Driver fled the scene. 🤔
I have added a fire blanket to my RV. It is very compact and quite inexpensive. I hang mine near the propane stove.