Imagine your adrenaline levels when you realize the trailer you’re towing behind you is on fire. It happened in Elkhart, Iowa, on I-35. Seeing the flames, the combination pulled over and RVers braved the flames to disconnect the truck from the doomed rig.
Smoke and fire—RVers braved flames to save tow rig
It all played out last Thursday evening, July 18. The unnamed RVers were heading northbound on the interstate near the Elkhart rest stop. The driver pulled his pickup over when the Jayco travel trailer started belching smoke and flames.
In video footage, the RVers braved the flames in a successful attempt to get the truck free of the inferno. The driver then pulls the truck ahead and out of the danger zone.
It took a few minutes for fire crews to get to the scene. As you could expect, there was nothing left of the rig but the frame by the time firefighters were able to get the flames knocked down. Nobody was hurt.
It raises questions
A couple of questions cross our minds. If you look closely at the video, you’ll notice that the trailer door, nearest the front of the rig, has been opened. We’d have to wonder why. Is it a byproduct of the fire, or did the RVers open the door to try and retrieve something? The open door provided more oxygen to speed up the fire—not that it would have made a difference in saving the rig.
However, since the pair was brave enough, or foolish enough, to stick around to rescue the truck, it likely put them in even more danger. We don’t have the details, but it would seem that getting far away from the fire and letting the truck burn would have been the smarter move.
What do you think? If you’d been in this situation, would you have tried to rescue the truck, or not. And why? Please leave your comments.
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I would have saved the tow vehicle if the flames were nearer the rear as it appears here. But while I was unhooking maybe someone would remove the tanks from the front of the camper. Just an easy observation since it was not me.
Trying to remove the tanks would the last thing I would think of. Even disconnecting the trailer takes more time than someones life it worth.
Plus, the truck was not far enough away to be out of danger. If those tanks had exploded, any one in the immediate area could have been killed.
Without ever being in that type of situation I honestly don’t know what I would do.
Thank you, Russ and Tina! 🙂 I do not know. Maybe. If our engine catches fire, then I doubt that we could release the Jeep; the flames would be too close. I am thankful that they saved the truck and were not hurt. I wasn’t there, so I can’t say how brave or how stupid saving the truck was. 🤔 Thanks again, have a great day, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
Saving the tow vehicle? Depends. If the fire was far enough away from the 5th wheel hitch. Sure. Drop the gate, and disconnect fast. The door of the trailer could have been opened to get a fire extinguisher.
Had a car fire years ago that started. Luckily I was at home with a garden hose close by. Luckily only wires and hoses were damaged. If the fire had gone on another minute or two, the car would have been a goner.
Probably a good reminder for all of us RVers. It’s summer, fires are more likely, especially engine fires. Most fluids in a modern vehicle are flammable. Oil & transmission leaks can cause grime build up. Leaves and nuts left by squirrels can catch fire.
I recommend checking for organic debris, when readying the RV for the summer. Recommend fixing oil leaks, and cleaning the engine off as necessary. Cleaning the engine can be a DIY job, or you can have a professional perform a steam cleaning.
Used to live next to a long grade in the Sierras. Seeing DPs engine catch on fire happened almost every summer.
When my vehicles get so old it makes financial sense to drop collision I always keep comprehensive. It covers fire, flood, and theft, plus cracked windshields. And I’m glad I have an all electric trailer- those propane tanks looked like a potential bomblast equivalent
Given the distance of fire and trailer I probably would have done what they did but I would have pulled much farther ahead from the fire