Motorhome fire, looked terrifying

[Phill D]

Driving along the A9/ E15 just before the Spanish border on cruise control at about 108 kph I was overtaken a speedb by a motorhome that looked as if it was a fiat x244 variant.
No logos so don't know any more.

He pulled in front and sped off into the distance.

Several miles later there was black smoke rising ahead. When we got there that Motorhome was ablaze. The whole of the bonnet area and cab was completely ablaze. The side windows were sagging and melting in the heat.
The flames were well over a meter above the Motorhome.
Police were arriving from behind us as we passed. The traffic had naturally slowed and even from the outside lane, I gave it as much room as I could you could feel the heat.
It would have been quite scarry for the driver, who thankfully appeared safe at the side of the road quite a way from his van.
I will have footage on my dash cam but at the moment can't seem to get at the it. If I do find it I will post it.

Could not believe the ferocity of the fire and how quickly it appeared to get so bad.

 

[jumar]

Driving along the A9/ E15 just before the Spanish border on cruise control at about 108 kph I was overtaken a speedb by a motorhome that looked as if it was a fiat x244 variant.
No logos so don't know any more.

He pulled in front and sped off into the distance.

Several miles later there was black smoke rising ahead. When we got there that Motorhome was ablaze. The whole of the bonnet area and cab was completely ablaze. The side windows were sagging and melting in the heat.
The flames were well over a meter above the Motorhome.
Police were arriving from behind us as we passed. The traffic had naturally slowed and even from the outside lane, I gave it as much room as I could you could feel the heat.
It would have been quite scarry for the driver, who thankfully appeared safe at the side of the road quite a way from his van.
I will have footage on my dash cam but at the moment can't seem to get at the it. If I do find it I will post it.

Could not believe the ferocity of the fire and how quickly it appeared to get so bad.

Not a 1kg Dry Powder job then....time to leave it to the experts....those who clear debris from the roadside....
At this time I wonder how many of you out there have seen remnants of burnt out vehicles on steep uphill sections of roadways... normally when the vehicles are underload and the engine is hot and working hard without any natural cooling....

 

[Carpmart]

Its a lesson for us all really! I'm old school in terms of trying to be as mechanically sympathetic as possible. Deffo keep a very close eye on engine temps when putting load into the MH. Like getting the temp down asap after a mountain climb etc. We are 7.3T MH, so roll at 86-88 kph on the continental runs and roughly the same 54-56 mph in the UK depending on the limiter settings on the lorries in our proximity. Gives me around 20 mpg too...

 

[mikebeaches]

Wow, unpleasant experience.

Wonder what nationality the van / driver was?

 

[Phill D]

Wow, unpleasant experience.

Wonder what nationality the van / driver was?

I am not sure but he was alone fortunately.

The other point is the main section of motorway we were on was relatively flat.

Definitely looked if it had stated under the bonnet.

It also gets you thinking about what if this happened say at the end if a journey as you park on a pitch.

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[jumar]

Your Fire Safety relies on firstly seeing, hearing or smelling the Danger...then acting according to the situation, Human Nature...
However during the Sleep hours the above may not help, and it's during these times that you depend on Mechanical means...Fire Detection, in simple terms something that will detect smoke....and make you aware that the Danger is present...Smoke alarms save lives....provided they are fitted and maintained correctly...

 

[Phill D]

Our habitation detection goes off a the slightest, even the toaster sets it off.
I would assume they would activate a with any burning / smoke fumes coming into the cab while driving.
If you had not already noticed....

 

[jumar]

Our habitation detection goes off a the slightest, even the toaster sets it off.
I would assume they would activate a with any burning / smoke fumes coming into the cab while driving.
If you had not already noticed....

Far better to be sensitive than dormant..the Detector is there to warn you when you are not aware...like sleeping..

 

[mitzimad]

driving hard is very unlikley to cause a fire probably electrical

 

[Phill D]

driving hard is very unlikley to cause a fire probably electrical

Would agree most likely. Whatever caused it, it got hold very quickly.

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[therealvicz]

Wow, close up account of a camper van fire. It was old and being renovated, but still…Travel Beans Fire

 

[Nedge68]

driving hard is very unlikley to cause a fire probably electrical

Couldn’t have been fuel in contact with a red hot exhaust then?

 

[Raul]

Looks that way, fuel leak onto exhaust, then fire underneath where the fuel tank is.

 

[Tonks]

Wow, close up account of a camper van fire. It was old and being renovated, but still…Travel Beans Fire

Flipping heck! That's pretty horrifying viewing. I started watching the Travel Beans when they were scammed with their T4. I hope they weren't scammed by their workshop this time as it seems odd that just literally after it was in the shop for weeks there's then a fire.
But overall, just very thankful they're both safe, and it was pretty horrifying how quickly it escalated. That's the 2nd van fire I've seen and the first also took hold really fast. Just makes sense to make sure your smoke alarms are working, and to GET OUT at the first hint of any issue.