By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
A motorhome and the car it was towing were completely destroyed by fire at around noon on Sunday closing Hwy. 3 completely for over an hour in the vicinity of Eagle Point road on Anarchist Mountain.
The Anarchist Mountain Fire Department received a call about a vehicle fire at noon and upon arrival, a motor home, which was towing a car eastbound on Hwy. 3 had ignited and then became fully engulfed in flames.
The two occupants of the motorhome had escaped the vehicle prior to the fire spreading with no known injuries, the AMFD said.
AMFD secured the scene by closing the highway in both directions and precautions were taken to ensure the fire did not spread to the surrounding bush and residential area. An AMFD spokesperson said the highway was closed completely for about 1.25 hours followed by single lane alternating traffic for about another two hours.
Photo courtesy of Anarchist Mountain Fire Department (AMFD).
Several explosions occurred from rupturing tires and at least one onboard propane tank.
“When it was safe to do so, the AMFD fire crew did a direct attack on the fire using suppression foam; fire was contained to the road and did not spread,” the AMFD said.
According to AMFD Chief Urs Grob the cause of the fire is unknown. “We are thankful a fire like this did not occur during the peak of our wildfire season when everything is much drier,” Grob said.
RCMP was on the scene, along with BC Ambulance who provided health checks on the firefighters.
Photo courtesy of Anarchist Mountain Fire Department (AMFD).
The AMFD reminded motorists and bystanders that the extremely toxic nature of the smoke produced by these kinds of fires is very dangerous, as is the risk of explosion and flying objects. The Times Chronicle understands that a number of bystanders were dangerously close to the fire in order to take photos and video.
“It’s fortunate that there were no injuries. One of our concerns after we got on scene was to get bystanders back. Not only from fire and explosions but the highly toxic nature of the thick black smoke, which contains gases like carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide and phosgene. Firefighters have to wear protective gear and breathing apparatus to limit these risks,” the AMFD told the Times Chronicle.
To help keep you, your family and first responders out of harm’s way in such circumstances, the AMFD urges people to:
- remain in your vehicle,
- obey traffic control and closures; and
- avoid coming into or near the accident/ fire scene area while crews are at work.
“We appreciate your cooperation in keeping us all safe, AMFD said.
The incident took place nearly two weeks after the Osoyoos Fire Rescue extinguished a blaze on Hwy. 3 just west of Osoyoos involving a tow truck which caught fire while towing a tractor-trailer unit.
Photo courtesy of Anarchist Mountain Fire Department (AMFD).
