Recreational Vehicle Fire in the 1000 Block of Independence Avenue

On Wednesday, May 27, at 8:10 p.m., a 9-1-1 call was received reporting flames coming from a recreational vehicle (RV) parked in the 1000 block of Independence Avenue.

Fire units were dispatched at 8:11 p.m. and arrived on the scene at 8:16 p.m. They arrived to find an active fire coming from an RV. Firefighters initiated a fire attack with water lines pre-connected to the fire engine and extinguished the flames before they could spread.

Firefighters performed an extensive overhaul of the RV to ensure complete extinguishment of the flames. One adult was treated by City of Mountain View Fire Department Paramedics for smoke inhalation because of the fire and declined transport to a local hospital.

The Mountain View Police Department provided traffic control for 90 minutes while fire units and equipment were on the scene. The Public Works Department was called to the scene to ensure no contaminants from the fire entered the storm drain.

The two adult occupants of the RV arranged for temporary housing with friends and neighbors. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental, due to a cooking error that ignited the contents of a pot on the stove. The estimated damage to the contents and vehicle is $20,000.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires and injuries. By following a few safety tips, you can prevent these fires.
• Stay in the kitchen while frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food.
• Keep anything that can catch fire (oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, or curtains) away from your stovetop.
• Smother flames on the stovetop by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the burner.
• Get out and call 9-1-1 if you have any doubts about extinguishing a small fire.

Photographs
Individual images can be found at Flickr.com/photos/MVpublicsafety.

Please credit the images: Courtesy of the City of Mountain View Fire Department.

Media Contact
Robert Maitland, Fire Department PIO
650-903-6825 or [email protected]