A tragic story out of Washington state underscores how fast an RV fire can spread. The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office reports that a fire late Sunday took the life of a 5-year-old and seriously hurt a 1-year-old. Firefighters reported the fifth wheel fire on a rural property near Port Angeles, Washington, at about 7:45 in the evening.
Fire fighters learn children inside fifth wheel fire
When firefighters arrived, they discovered two children inside. Flames were already billowing out of the roof. While they removed the 1-year-old from the rig, they could not recover the older child until after the flames were out.
“We are committed to uncovering the cause of this incident and supporting those in need,” said Justin Grider, fire chief, in an interview covered by King5 News. The preliminary cause of the fifth wheel fire points to a small refrigerator in the rig. The Sheriff’s Office reports that the children were inside the fifth wheel and possibly unattended for “an unknown period of time.”
“Our hearts go out to the families affected by this unimaginable loss,” Chief Grider said. “The support and well wishes and prayers are always welcome.” The rescuers airlifted the surviving child to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. We do not currently know the child’s condition.
This tragic fifth wheel fire is another reminder of the importance of keeping a close eye on children, and making sure your rig’s smoke detectors are working.
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Oh! How tragic! This just rips my heart out to even imagine. Why would a 5 and 1 yr old be left alone in a rural area in a trailer? So sad and an incredible loss and expenses for the parents or guardians. So sorry….. I hope they have a home to go to too……
Thank you for sharing this tragic bit of news and the inherent and direct admonishments to not leave small children unattended and RVs burn fast and hot. So awful for the relevant families. I cannot imagine the depths of their sorrow. Safe travels, Russ and Tina!