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04-07-2010, 07:06 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Florida Keys
Posts: 2,687
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5er Fire shuts down I-95 in Richmond
Yesterday tragedy struck a full time couple, Duane and Nora, whose had a tire caught fire on their 5th wheel. I saw the rig pulled on the side of I95 and pulled our motorhome over and the boys and I jumped out with 3 fire extinguishers. Combined with some other motorists, we emptied about 6 extinguishers but could not contain the fire. Fearing the propane tanks were going to blow, we pulled the couple away from the rig. Two firetrucks came and ran out of water while it still burned. Finally 3 more trucks came and put out the fire but the rig smoldered for two hours as they found hot spots.
Thank God, no one was injured.
The pictures tell a very sad story:
I'm puzzled by how this could have been prevented? Tire pressure monitor? Bigger fire extinguishers? Less flammable materials in the camper contruction?
The VA state police, Richmond and Chesterfield fire fighters and many others showed great compassion and concern for this couple.
Remember Nora and Duane in your prayers as they try to put their lives back together. As full timers, this was their house, not just a camper that they vacationed in. They are currently staying with their friends in the Richmond area.
__________________
Tom and Katharine
'07 Winnebago Tour 40TD, 400hp Cummins
'17 Winnebago View 24V, '02 R-Vision B+
RVing for 20 years & 200,000+ miles
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04-07-2010, 07:53 PM
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#2
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RV Mutant #14
Winnebago Owners Club Texas Boomers Club Freightliner Owners Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 17,289
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That is so sad.
Our best wishes and thankfulness for there safety.
Those are two propane bottles sitting on the roadway - after the fire.
__________________
Wayne MSGT USMC (Ret) & Earlene (CinCHouse) RVM14 (ARS: KE5QG)
Lexi - Goldendoodle
2015 Winnebago Tour 42QD - 2020 Lincoln Nautilus Reserve
It is what it is, and then it is what you make of it.
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04-07-2010, 07:54 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Vintage RV Owners Club Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Oliver BC
Posts: 236
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As an active firefighter I am interested in knowing the cause . My heart goes out to them as full timers this has got to be way worse than happening to someone with a fixed adderss.
__________________
Bob & Deb in a 1991 Southwind
being pushed by a 1976 MG Midget
Life is good
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04-07-2010, 08:09 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Florida
Posts: 788
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I'm sorry to hear this. Glad they didn't get injured. Just down the road from where this happened.
__________________
2019 Newmar Canyon Star 3719
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04-08-2010, 03:58 AM
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#5
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Moderator Emeritus
Country Coach Owners Club Appalachian Campers Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Chattanooga, Tn.
Posts: 12,060
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Tom, thanks for sharing and hopefully this will be a wake up call to many of the RVing community at this time of year. It is so sad to see things like this happen and there are some things that can be done to prevent this type of thing. AS has been discussed here before; the most important thing is tire maintenance, inflation, inspection, mph and weight limit control.
It is imperative first to weigh these coaches to know that you are not over weight for the tire.
That the tire is properly inflated. Is not old, is in good condition and is not driven over the maximum tested and engineered speed of 65 mph without de-rating the weight carrying capacity of the tire.
I doubt that most tire pressure monitoring systems can determine heat in a tire from road temp, weigh overload, and other friction going on such as tire belt separation or physical rubbing.
I doubt one can carry enough fire extinguishers. I carry 7.
I guess a fire sprinkler system could be installed if the consumer want to pay for it and haul the weight of the water.
The materials of construction are flammable themselves and I doubt they will ever change; since it is other sources that get it started.
We will remember Duane and Nora in our prayers and hopefully they can get a replacement quickly and they can put this behind them and lean from it.
__________________
Mike, RVIA & RVSA Certified Master RV Technician
Amy, Dr. Assistant - Roxie & Mei Ling, four legs each
2000 Gulf Stream Scenic Cruiser 450 hp & 1330# torque
06 Saturn Vue, 06 Chevy Z71 4x4 & 2014 Corvette Z51 M7
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04-08-2010, 06:10 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Full-timers - Home is where we park it.
Posts: 4,722
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That is a real tragedy. I'm glad no one was hurt, and I hope they have replacement value insurance.
One of the problems with a 5th wheel is you can have a tire failure and not know it because, unlike a motorhome, you're not riding in the 5th wheel. A tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) may not have predicted the failure, but at least it would tell you that it had happened.
On the other hand, the fire could have also been caused by a dragging brake or a bad wheel bearing. Some TPMS have temperature sensors, but I'm not sure is those sensors would be able to pick up the heat rise from the brake of bearing because those things are external to the tire.
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04-08-2010, 07:15 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 169
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I too am an active firefighter. While have fought many Auto fires and a few trailer fires I know from experience that once they get going they can be quite hard to stop. I am very glad to see nobody was physically injured but having experience in losing your home to a fire I know they are suffering emotionally and probably financially as weel. My prayers go out for them and I hope that they are sonn back on the road.
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04-10-2010, 09:40 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: SW Louisiana
Posts: 42
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Our prayers are with them to be able to move forward and continue their RV lifestyle. Thanks for sharing the story with us.
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Vickie & Ronnie
2014 Newmar Canyon Star 3911
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04-11-2010, 07:00 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 183
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Maybe someone should invent a tire compartment ansul(not sure on spelling) system. They make them for engine and fridge compartments. They would have to figure a different way of sensing the heat because of the outside air combined with moving would cool the area but it might still get hot enough to trigger the system.
Hope every thing works out for the couple.
Chris
__________________
Monaco Dynasty
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04-16-2010, 09:15 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 96
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Most likely a blown tire that overheated from dragging. I once had a right rear blow-out on a fiver and did not know it until I stopped for gas.
Now we run Pressure Pros on all 14 tires.
__________________
Nancy & Dennis
2005 Mountain Aire FW 35BLKS; '99 Volvo 610
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04-17-2010, 04:16 AM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 53
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This sure is a tragidy !!!
I am always looking in my mirrors when I tow any kind of trailer as the trailer tires are the weakest link when towing.
I look for heat trails and white or black smoke in mirrors.
I also have INFRA RED thermometer that I check temps of tires,wheel hubs and brake drums when i stop as it is a tell of things down the road.
Any temps that are not as close too other wheels are a sign.
Again, this is soooo sad.
I will add another bigger fire extinguisher now as well
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04-17-2010, 07:42 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Vintage RV Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Seattle,Wa. USA
Posts: 415
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so sad
we had a 5 er and we had a blown tire it was under our fridge in a small cubbord my husband kept shoes all of a sudden he seen his shoes pulled over , never felt it but it had ripped out the wheel well.
So sorry for this couple. I wonder if they will go out again? I'd have a hard time after a fire. do they post here? my prayers are with them.
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04-17-2010, 12:27 PM
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#13
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Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 66
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I am so glad they weren't injured. The Rv can be replaced and hopefully they have good insurance with adequate contents coverage. It may be a good time for all of us to check our insurance policy's and also consider a tire pressure monitoring system.
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04-17-2010, 01:08 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner Forest River Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 3,251
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How does everyone seem to know/ think this was started by a tire failure? I just did not see that here.
__________________
Max49
2018 Forest River Georgetown F-53
'08 Jeep Wrangler Toad
Denver, Colorado
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