Fiery Holocaust on I-40 East Jeff County TN

[alexcomp]

https://youtu.be/jOnhY8chy2g
Link to short video...



Do you think this might have been caused by Propane? No apparent rollover or accident damage although it's hard to tell through the fire.

RV Holocaust on Tennessee I-40 East around Jefferson County. 9/18/2019. We were returning from a five day camping vacation at the Pocahontas Campground in Virginia. We had just transitioned onto I 40 W. after running down Route 81 and I noticed a huge column of oily smoke ahead in the eastbound lane.

As we came alongside, I saw that a medium large class a motorhome towing a small pickup truck was completely engaged in a massive fire. The truck was also on fire. I have never seen such a dramatic vehicle fire in all my considerable years. It did not look as though there was an accident or a rollover. I wonder if the vehicle had propane running the refrigerator or something electrical caught fire? Strangely considering the highly dramatic nature of the fire, I have not been able to find a thing on news. I really hope the occupants of the vehicle got out alive.

[jd4010]

My guess is that the fire was started in the engine bay of the motorhome and then spread quickly to the vehicle in tow. What a mess.

Hope everyone is ok. Probably some hurt feelings though especially when they see what insurance is going to pay them for the loss.

[ependydad]

There is absolutely no way to guess what caused the fire.

[MtBiker]

Having the propane on would be the least of your worries.
Everything inside a motor home is pretty flammable and burns very hot.
Take an old couch cushion some time and throw it on a burn pile. It might as well be kerosene.
Once a fire starts in an RV it is going down.

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by ependydad

There is absolutely no way to guess what caused the fire.

Doug, you know there are 154 ways to GUESS what caused the fire and that 102 of them will be posted in 3, 2, 1!

[TheWolfPaq82]

Originally Posted by ependydad

There is absolutely no way to guess what caused the fire.

Fuel, Oxygen, Heat = Fire.
Remember your "Fire Triangle"

[5picker]

Originally Posted by ependydad

There is absolutely no way to guess what caused the fire.

Originally Posted by Mr. Dan

Doug, you know there are 154 ways to GUESS what caused the fire and that 102 of them will be posted in 3, 2, 1!

Absolutely correct.... but... since the OP asked, there are going to be lots of them (guesses) and that is all they will be. Period.

I too, hope no one got hurt.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by Mr. Dan

Doug, you know there are 154 ways to GUESS what caused the fire and that 102 of them will be posted in 3, 2, 1!

Well then, my guess is the truck was overweight trying to push that heavy motorhome. Diesel dually or bigger at a minimum. Otherwise, you're over ratings and that's 1,000% illegal.

And, you can clearly tell there wasn't a WDH in play. Without a Hensley, you're putting everyone on the road in danger. Wait, no- Pro Ride, Hensley's are crap.

The good news is, I heard the owner tried to use his gray water to hose the fire down but Good Samaritans stopped him from sprinkling that precious dirty water on the ground.

The noise police came around and complained about the road noise because the campsite was so close to the highway.

And lastly, the light police were out in full force over the brightness of the flames. Good thing the owner didn't get out his bucket light.

And second lastly, thank god there wasn't a contractor generator in sight.

--

Did I hit them all?

[lesptr]

Originally Posted by ependydad

well then, my guess is the truck was overweight trying to push that heavy motorhome. Diesel dually or bigger at a minimum. Otherwise, you're over ratings and that's 1,000% illegal.



And, you can clearly tell there wasn't a wdh in play. Without a hensley, you're putting everyone on the road in danger. Wait, no- pro ride, hensley's are crap.



The good news is, i heard the owner tried to use his gray water to hose the fire down but good samaritans stopped him from sprinkling that precious dirty water on the ground.



The noise police came around and complained about the road noise because the campsite was so close to the highway.



And lastly, the light police were out in full force over the brightness of the flames. Good thing the owner didn't get out his bucket light.



And second lastly, thank god there wasn't a contractor generator in sight.



--



did i hit them all?

like button!

[upflying]

Originally Posted by TheWolfPaq82

Fuel, Oxygen, Heat = Fire.
Remember your "Fire Triangle"

Yep, I will guess a heat source caused the fire.
Now where are my disposable gloves for handling my sewer hose?

[TheWolfPaq82]

Originally Posted by ependydad

Well then, my guess is the truck was overweight trying to push that heavy motorhome. Diesel dually or bigger at a minimum. Otherwise, you're over ratings and that's 1,000% illegal.

And, you can clearly tell there wasn't a WDH in play. Without a Hensley, you're putting everyone on the road in danger. Wait, no- Pro Ride, Hensley's are crap.

The good news is, I heard the owner tried to use his gray water to hose the fire down but Good Samaritans stopped him from sprinkling that precious dirty water on the ground.

The noise police came around and complained about the road noise because the campsite was so close to the highway.

And lastly, the light police were out in full force over the brightness of the flames. Good thing the owner didn't get out his bucket light.

And second lastly, thank god there wasn't a contractor generator in sight.

--

Did I hit them all?

Doug...you missed the really important one...CHINA BOMBS.

[Oaklevel]

All of the above.........................

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by jd4010

My guess is that the fire was started in the engine bay of the motorhome and then spread quickly to the vehicle in tow. What a mess.

Your guess is a pretty good one. Having looked at lots of engine bays/under hoods over the years it's amazing how many people pay little attention to oil leaks and all the random wires added for various accessories.

Leaky valve covers, leaking transmission cooler/power steering lines, spilled oil, may be an annoyance if the oil drips on the driveway but when that oil meets a hot exhaust manifold while driving hard down the highway you can see fires like this.

Another common fire cause is careless wiring, added for accessories with no fuse close to power source.

Propane? Not likely to cause fires but it sure will burn when a fire does start.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by MtBiker

Once a fire starts in an RV it is going down.

And one can wonder how long they smelled something hot before they noticed smoke and flame.

My mother and her husband (not my dad) smelled hot oil with their MH many years ago. Pulled over, saw flames dripping from engine, got out fire extinguisher and saved the unit. When they stopped the flames had JUST started but they payed attention to the hot smell.

[GL1800Rider]

There is actually a 4th quadrant to the fire triangle, the tetrahedron. Also, usually involves a hazardous act.

Originally Posted by TheWolfPaq82

Fuel, Oxygen, Heat = Fire.
Remember your "Fire Triangle"

[mjones12]

Originally Posted by TheWolfPaq82

Doug...you missed the really important one...CHINA BOMBS.

Yes, spontaneous combustion waiting to happen.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by GL1800Rider

There is actually a 4th quadrant to the fire triangle, the tetrahedron. Also, usually involves a hazardous act.

Aren't most hazardous acts often preceeded by the words "here, hold my beer" ?[emoji57]

[Flywithlloyd]

[emoji23] [emoji23] [emoji23] [emoji23]

Originally Posted by ependydad

Well then, my guess is the truck was overweight trying to push that heavy motorhome. Diesel dually or bigger at a minimum. Otherwise, you're over ratings and that's 1,000% illegal.

And, you can clearly tell there wasn't a WDH in play. Without a Hensley, you're putting everyone on the road in danger. Wait, no- Pro Ride, Hensley's are crap.

The good news is, I heard the owner tried to use his gray water to hose the fire down but Good Samaritans stopped him from sprinkling that precious dirty water on the ground.

The noise police came around and complained about the road noise because the campsite was so close to the highway.

And lastly, the light police were out in full force over the brightness of the flames. Good thing the owner didn't get out his bucket light.

And second lastly, thank god there wasn't a contractor generator in sight.

--

Did I hit them all?

[Capt. Mike]

Originally Posted by ependydad

Well then, my guess is the truck was overweight trying to push that heavy motorhome. Diesel dually or bigger at a minimum. Otherwise, you're over ratings and that's 1,000% illegal.

And, you can clearly tell there wasn't a WDH in play. Without a Hensley, you're putting everyone on the road in danger. Wait, no- Pro Ride, Hensley's are crap.

The good news is, I heard the owner tried to use his gray water to hose the fire down but Good Samaritans stopped him from sprinkling that precious dirty water on the ground.

The noise police came around and complained about the road noise because the campsite was so close to the highway.

And lastly, the light police were out in full force over the brightness of the flames. Good thing the owner didn't get out his bucket light.

And second lastly, thank god there wasn't a contractor generator in sight.

--

Did I hit them all?

Doug, you forgot "China bomb" tires blowing out and causing a fire by pieces hitting a propane line

[alexcomp]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

And one can wonder how long they smelled something hot before they noticed smoke and flame.

My mother and her husband (not my dad) smelled hot oil with their MH many years ago. Pulled over, saw flames dripping from engine, got out fire extinguisher and saved the unit. When they stopped the flames had JUST started but they payed attention to the hot smell.

Title of comment says it all...