This photo was sent to me by Keith Davis of MOT, asking me if I knew to whom it belongs. I think the fire was around 7 pm and do not know status of occupants or cause. I am trying to see if a Motorcade number. So very sorry for these folks but if they ok, then prayers would be answered. I imagine will be on KETK news tonight, if I learn more will advise.
Aft of refrigerator. Tire/brakes? No motorcade visible
So very sad . Looks to me like front section of engine compartment and rear half of bed room . Brad Metzger
Upsetting to see this. Hope they got out
Timpson is about 25-30 N. of Nac on Hwy. 59. Will look at the news and
see if there is anything on about this sad event. Glad Michael and Jackie
posted this.
Carter
Nac-
Drive thru timpson all the time on the way to and from Nac . No motorcade number and no front Lic plate so probably a Texas coach I would bet.
John, that my thought too.....Texas coach. Couple Forum friends coming in today mind goes first to worry there but they accounted for. Keith knew we planning some members for meals, vmspc work, annuals, etc. (Bill Blackmon though not this week, will miss the gumbo!)
I had to think the occupants are fine just from activity but on the other hand that shows heavy smoke coming out from front. That could be after people evacuated. I checked couple tv news late, not see it.
Goodnight
In doing google search nothing has come up except this thread. I see where Timpson's VFD has a facebook page. I do not have facebook and can not even access facebook from the office, but maybe they posted something on their page.
It looks like fire on the ground so diesel fuel is leaking and burning?
Found this
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1237074729694286&set=pcb.1237074756360950&type=3&theater
Gary B
So very sad. Hopefully everyone is ok, all that matters is that everyone is safe.
Man that is scary.
Be safe everyone.
Just a quick edit...I called the Timpson Fire Dept., Phone: (936) 254-3547 the young lady I spoke with was reluctant to release any more information other than to say that no one was injured, so good news!
Details not on their web site, maybe available later at East Texas Press | (http://www.easttexaspress.com) ? Looks as if they cover all the local news.
While searching for the Timpson RV fire, I noticed this one. Started in the refrigerator. Another good reason never to leave pets inside. Lucky the neighbors got the dog out.
Motorhome catches fire, dog inside survives | The Daily Courier | Prescott, AZ (http://www.dcourier.com/news/2016/sep/30/motorhome-catches-fire-dog-inside-survives/)
Bummer about fire but the photographer took the perfect photo.
Pierce
Then where are you
supposed to leave them? You can't take your pet with you
everywhere you go. Most RV parks have rules against leaving your animals tied/penned up outside the coach when you are gone. What do you suggest?
Koda goes with us and either stays in the back of the RAV4 or goes with us into restaurants, stores, visiting. If someplace/someone does not like him, we don't like them! He was welcome at restaurants/pubs with outside seating on our latest trip.
Europeans take their dogs into restaurants as they don't have the phobia some places have here.
Pierce
I tried couple of sources for info but then I recalled my friend lives in Timpson, owned cafe there and Garrison....still does in Nac....and she running down details with officials of town, see what willing to disclose.
Understand too that in our small towns, a newspaper can be weekly as is East Texas Press.
In any case, she said the word was they got out ok. I still want find the people, see if can help. When I get that, will report back. Letting Angela do her magic on info....she lives there, some you met her with us at lunches at Mercantile.
Chuck makes a good point about leaving pets. Scary, do not have pet so not thought about that aspect. As for taking them, some places in central texas are common to see, not so in east texas. see in some NM. hmmm
mike
Most of us have Dometic fridges, there is a recall on two-door models made from June 1,2003 to Sept. 30, 2006. Fire hazzard! Looks like earlier ones were affected, as well.
Dometic Refrigerator Recall Info – Suites Owners (http://www.suitesowners.com/dometic-refrigerator-recall-info)
so it not lost in the discussion about this particular fire, i took what I was going to post here and moved it to a new thread....engine fires...reviews of causes, prevention and suppression. Hope you folks that know about such will go to Technical Talk and give us guidance.
This only gets lots of attention from me when I see such as Timpson or the one Gary posted of one in AZ. I need to do more.
mike
This is why we replaced our dead RV refrigerator with a residential unit.
Add us to the electric fridge reason for changing it. Such a simple change and as far as I am concerned works better. Most of RV s go post to post so should not be a problem for power.
JohnH
I wonder if they were headed to Foretravel, Mtr. Homes of Texas, or Old Town, possibly
another service facility. Possibly they could tell us the status of the occupants and if any
of us, that are local, might help them?
Carter-
A helium fridge like Jerry Maddux installed also solves the problem. See website: Atwood Helium Refrigerators (http://www.askforatwood.com/refrigerators/)
Pierce
This does not appear to be a refrigerator fire. Nonetheless, after mine caught fire I had it replaced by a 12volt only compressor-driven "marine" refrigerator.
Called Joey Ross Wrecker Service (936-560-4159) they have the really big wreckers
and do most of the MH pulls in the area. Great friend to the MH world. I asked if they
did the pull on the coach that burned in Timpson. They did not.
Will keep trying,
Carter
Tim answered hears all ok, coach taken FOT...see his comnents at Fire Suppression thread
Anyone hear what caused the fire? I emailed Foretravel and they said it wasn't taken there.
I'm surprised at what must have been a very fast response by the firefighters Usually, the RV is totally involved in the 6-8 minutes it take to arrive on scene. The materials found in most RVs are highly flammable, due to light weight construction and adhesives used. Great article.
Hopefully they weren't headed from any of the above
after having service performed.
So true.
Carter-
We understand that frustration. We often leave Lacy in the RV if it is cool outside and we are just out for a meal. If we are out all day we take her with us, but don't leave her in the car for very long, and never when it is hot. This can be a real inconvenience. A few years ago, we took turns going into the Kitty Hawk museum and when we were down at Key West, we missed out on all the galleries and museums. We did find a great outdoor restaurant where they even brought her a bowl of water and doggie treat. We are restricted by not being able to bring her everywhere, but that is the price we pay for her company.
TVASTVFD 1/11/2017 | East Texas Press (http://www.easttexaspress.com/shelby-county-timpson/tvastvfd-1112017)
The glowing red hot provides a clue?
Possibly gasoline mixed into the diesel? I have seen some weird things happen with the right ratio of gas in a diesel engine. A tiny bit of gas and nothing happens. Too much and it stalls and wont run, but the right amount of gas where it can still run but messes up the burn and you end up with big issues. Just a guess, but seriously sad to see what most of us consider our home burning like that =(
without any additional info I would guess a turbo oil seal allowing oil to get into exhaust ....
Lots of reasons for a RV fire. Diesel leak, turbo seal causing hot side overheating, broken turbo/exhaust pipe, sticking brake causing tire fire plus a few dozen other reasons. Diesel on a hot manifold/turbo is a lot more dangerous than gasoline. That's what cetane rating is about. With a diesel pusher, the operator may not notice the coach is on fire for miles. When he or she does, it's frequently too late. Heat sensors are good but extinguishers don't do much unless the coach is stopped. The coach movement coupled with the radiator fans quickly blow away any suppression agent.
From my view as a retired firefighter, this is a pretty typical RV fire. Tough to zero in without some clues from the owner while driving or maintenance done lately. Fires midship are easier as most start in the fridge.
In speaking to the owner of the U300 that burned while underway a couple of years ago, recent turbo maintenance and a mis-installed clamp on the hot side clamp turned out to be the cause. Engine room insulation is just waiting for an open flame.
Pierce
I wonder what was "not quite right" and how long it took him to get to parking lot and open rear cover. For the exhaust to be glowing I would think there was a problem somewhere causing that.
I had a turbo impeller explode on my old Mack truck. When it did, My pyrometer skyrocketed. So I said to the shop doing the new turbo install, Wouldn't it be interesting to have a remote camera in the engine bay to look at the turbo. He said you do not want to do that. As Turbos and exhaust manifolds under normal circumstances ROUTINELY are glowing red hot and you would just worry yourself sick. Of course he was correct.
On the other hand a pyrometer is a great thing to have for a turbo charged diesel engine. Lots of issues in a diesel engine will manifest itself as elevated exhaust temps.
The fact that this unfortunate FT owner just turned around & drove back to town instead of stopping to asses the issue. Is likely to have elevated his problem from a minor/serious one into an obviously catastrophic one.
Glad to hear that he and his buddy escaped with their lives. I also prey that he had insurance.
One time I stopped my 1978 Saab Turbo and opened the hood. The turbocharger was cherry red.
I had a turbo fry on the Airstream and, because of the pyrometer reading, pulled over right now! When we got this coach, I was perplexed that there was no boost/pyro gauges on board. The "experts" assured me, that as long as I did not hot rod the engine, there was no need. I don't agree, and next time I find a tech that knows his stuff, I'll have them install my favorite make of gauges.
ISSPRO.com - Quality Gauges, Tachometers, Speedometers and more! (http://www.isspro.com) The wiring could be dicey, however!
Way back in the mists of time I lived in London in Highgate. There were several long steep hills there and watching some of the heavy trucks (Seddons) climbing flat out in low gear with their under front bumper exhausts glowing cherry red was quite a sight!
Things get hot back there folks so check that nothing is leaking or coming apart.
Keith