Fire

RVNeophytes2 · 10-29-2011, 07:15 AM

A Class A in the SeaTac area suffered a fire recently, thank goodness it was unoccupied.

The news outlet mentions a propane tank; but, we all know its explosion was most likely secondary, as the fire reached high intensity.

What the photos reveal is how fragile our RVs are (even with Winnebago's token goal posts over the front).

HERE is a link to the article.

wa8yxm · 10-29-2011, 08:27 AM

Strangelly enough Propane tanks rarely explode. They are designed to shoot flame, but not explode. What can happen is a propane leak allows gas to build up to the magic ratio and a spark happens.. Then the explosion can make dynamite look tame. But the tank... May well come through intact and still have propane in it when the fire is put out.

Clifftall · 10-29-2011, 08:46 AM

Wonder if it was the Norcold??

Wayne M · 10-29-2011, 09:21 AM

That is a shame.

The picture in the article leads one to believe that the bottom compartments are still intact. Maybe some salvageable items.

SKP Kirk · 10-29-2011, 03:41 PM

There are no RVs that I know of which do not burn pretty completely if the fire gets going well. That pretty much looks like the result of any of them. RVs are much like mobile homes in that they have thin walls and little insulation and almost no fire inhibiting designs. The most common thing to explode in an RV fire is the fuel tank. Propane explosions from the tanks just almost never happen. Gasoline is the most dangerous fuel in most vehicles of any kind.

slickest1 · 10-29-2011, 04:17 PM

I seen a truck burn once that had an 80 gal tank on each side and they were about 2/3 full. The fire consumed the cab in 15 minutes and burned the tops off the aluminum tanks. The fuel was burning but was easily put out. It looked really strange with the tops of the tanks gone and the fuel just sitting there.

AFChap · 10-30-2011, 06:23 PM

Quote:

...Winnebago's token goal posts over the front

I thought so too when I saw that picture, but from the picture in the article I am pretty sure is it NOT a Winnebago ...not sure what it is/was but the storage compartment latches & wheel wells just don't look Winnebago to me. I have pictures of many MH fires, and cannot recall seeing one where the living area was so destroyed while the basement area remained so intact.