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Columbus Volunteer Fire Department firefighters run into the flames.
Fire in Columbus leads to total loss
A recreational vehicle (RV) fire in Columbus led to a complete and total loss in the early hours of the morning on Sept. 2.
The Columbus Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) was dispatched to the RV fire on County Road 151, calling in Rock Island VFD for tanker support, the Colorado County Emergency Services (EMS) and the Colorado County Sheriff’s office.
The owners of the home were using the RV as a temporary housing unit to build their “forever home” according to Assistant Fire Chief Richard LaCourse. The family of three smelled something burning and exited the RV before it was fully engulfed in flames.
“They were living in a 40foot fifth wheel while building their forever home,” said LaCourse. “They noticed the air conditioning turned off in the structure, so that kind of woke them up. That is when the family noticed that they smelled smoke and something burning inside of the vehicle and exited.”
LaCourse said that when the family exited the RV, they noticed the back corner where the RV plug was located was burning and tried to unplug the unit, but were too late as the fire had already started spreading internally. The family according to LaCourse, lost everything.
“They unplugged the unit but it was already too late,” said LaCourse. “That is when they called the fire department. The whole trailer was a total loss, they lost all of their personal belongings. They are staying with another family member right now.”
The cause of the fire was deemed to be an accident according to La-Course. He says the Colorado County Sheriff’s office conducted a prel iminary investigation and deemed that the fire most likely began due to an electrical shortage.
“It makes sense to us,” said LaCourse. “They did not have any insurance on the vehicle, so we knew it was accidental. More than likely the cause was due to a 50amp plug coming into the trailer, and it more than likely shorted. That is where the point of origin would be.”
There were no injuries reported.
