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EnolaEagle · 06-29-2012, 03:11 PM

I just got up to my campground last night and saw this... The owner told me that a family had just purchased this new 2012 Forest River TT. After their first trip they were having some electrical problems so they took it back to the dealer for work and had it back out last weekend. It caught fire at night and burnt down within minutes. The father/husband got his wife and one child out and then went back in for the other child and dog. The second trip in, he got burnt pretty bad but I think their all ok, as I hear. They took the dog to the emergency vet and they wouldn't do anything b/c he didn't have a credit card (really??)(it was burnt to a crisp...) I'm not sure if the dog is ok but I hope so and its a true blessing that this family is alive.
Its a shame that the "bad economy" forced manufacturers to cheapen the process but I'm sure Forest River has it comin to em, eh?

EnolaEagle · 06-29-2012, 03:16 PM

A few more shots.

REWahoo · 06-29-2012, 03:18 PM

Scary situation.

From your story it sounds like the problem might be with the dealer as well. I'm sure the insurance company lawyers will take both them and the manufacturer to task.

Steve N Sal · 06-29-2012, 03:19 PM

Those are photos that you don't like to see at all. I hope all are doing well.

Horizonchase · 06-29-2012, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve N Sal

Those are photos that you don't like to see at all. I hope all are doing well.

Boy, you got that right!! What horrific pictures. Thank God everyone made it out alive!!

EnolaEagle · 06-29-2012, 04:26 PM

When I bought mine new, of course this was a concern in the back of my head. I had the dealer hook it up for me and I spent 2 nights on the lot and ran everything full blast

clyon51 · 06-29-2012, 04:35 PM

When I got done with the dealer and/or Forest River, they would be re-named to John Lyon Inc.

Hopefully the family and dog will all be fine. Turns my stomach to see things like this, especially when it's caused by shoddy work!

tncruiser · 06-29-2012, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnolaEagle

I just got up to my campground last night and saw this... The owner told me that a family had just purchased this new 2012 Forest River TT. After their first trip they were having some electrical problems so they took it back to the dealer for work and had it back out last weekend. It caught fire at night and burnt down within minutes. The father/husband got his wife and one child out and then went back in for the other child and dog. The second trip in, he got burnt pretty bad but I think their all ok, as I hear. They took the dog to the emergency vet and they wouldn't do anything b/c he didn't have a credit card (really??)(it was burnt to a crisp...) I'm not sure if the dog is ok but I hope so and its a true blessing that this family is alive.
Its a shame that the "bad economy" forced manufacturers to cheapen the process but I'm sure Forest River has it comin to em, eh?

how do you know it was shoddy workmanship on FR.s side ,maybe a bad CG electrical or even owners fault is it a shame absolutely but to provide pix and assign blame seems a bit premature
brianj

CoastieSCPO · 06-29-2012, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tncruiser

how do you know it was shoddy workmanship on FR.s side ,maybe a bad CG electrical or even owners fault is it a shame absolutely but to provide pix and assign blame seems a bit premature
brianj

I thought that I read that the owner said that he took it back to the dealer to have an electrical issue handled.

wa8yxm · 06-29-2012, 05:01 PM

The fact he returned it to the dealer due to electircal issues makes me SUSPECT that the fire was caused by thsse self same issues.

The fact that on MY coach, (NOT a Forest River) When it was brand new, I had to tighten nearly every screw in the breaker box, and that those screws being loose can lead to arcing and overheating of the wires and a fire, Makes me REALLY SUSPECT the self same electrical problem.

However.. SUSPECT is not a conviction, It could be any of a long list of other things. UP to and including smoking in bed.

EnolaEagle · 06-29-2012, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tncruiser

how do you know it was shoddy workmanship on FR.s side ,maybe a bad CG electrical or even owners fault is it a shame absolutely but to provide pix and assign blame seems a bit premature
brianj

The original fire marshal on site found that the inspection stickers were not burnt... There are 5 electrical inspections to be done and only 2 were signed from the manufacturer so that's a start.

EnolaEagle · 06-29-2012, 05:52 PM

The insurance company sent their own specialist. Apparently it started in a gcfi which melted and threw the whole thing up. It only took 15 minutes and she was crisp. Flames were 20 feet up.

Paul R. Haller · 06-29-2012, 06:08 PM

While I try to be aware of the inherent dangers of living in an RV, I too forget that heaters, cooking, and watching TV while all the time your converter is charging batteries with 14 gallons of LP gas on board can be a recipe for disaster. These photos remind me to get extra fire extinguishers and signs marking their location mounted and to always be aware. It happens so fast.

I am always amazed at the amount of destruction a fire can create and how quickly it happens. Maybe I should put up one more smoke detector, after all they only cost 15$. In an RV, it's even worse because of the thick dense smoke that can very easily overwhelm you in such a confined space. Thank goodness everyone survived no matter who's at fault. It's so easy to replace a trailer... it is not when a loved one is lost. Everyone please be vigilant and enjoy.
-Paul R. Haller-

EnolaEagle · 06-29-2012, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul R. Haller

While I try to be aware of the inherent dangers of living in an RV, I too forget that heaters, cooking, and watching TV while all the time your converter is charging batteries with 14 gallons of LP gas on board can be a recipe for disaster. These photos remind me to get extra fire extinguishers and signs marking their location mounted and to always be aware. It happens so fast.

I am always amazed at the amount of destruction a fire can create and how quickly it happens. Maybe I should put up one more smoke detector, after all they only cost 15$. In an RV, it's even worse because of the thick dense smoke that can very easily overwhelm you in such a confined space. Thank goodness everyone survived no matter who's at fault. It's so easy to replace a trailer... it is not when a loved one is lost. Everyone please be vigilant and enjoy.
-Paul R. Haller-

Yeah, there's definately a lot of dangers and risk... The campground owner told me that he got down there about 10 minutes after the fire started (someone woke him up to tell him what happened)
When he arrived was about the time the flames shot up 20 feet through the roof... 2 minutes after that was when the smoke alarms went off....................