A mechanical fault is believed to be behind the dramatic fire which destroyed a converted motorhome just minutes after it had brought its owners back from a lengthy trip.
The small bus had hardly pulled in the couple’s driveway at their home in Corrimal near Wollongong on the New South Wales south coast when it went up in flames.
Wollongong Fire Station duty commander Inspector John Paull told the Illawarra Mercury that the bus went up in smoke very quickly.
“The occupants had travelled home from a holiday, pulled in the driveway at home and noticed a strange electrical smell,” he said. “They went inside but when they came back outside they noticed the vehicle was on fire.”
Happily, no one was hurt in the incident.
“The house and surrounds were not damaged and the fire was confined to the bus only, which was totally destroyed,” Inspector Paull told the Mercury. “There was no suspicious circumstances. At this stage we believe it is a mechanical defect.”
It is understood that the motorhome owners had just returned from a trip to the New South Wales north coast.
“electrical smell”, sounds to me a fuse is missing somewhere…
Dennis, wouldn’t like you to do my insurance assessment, pretty general comment. Ever see VW beetles and 1600 sedan fires, they were mainly to do with the battery mounted under the seat, the mounting strap touched the terminal. Also saw a truck go up when the battery cable rubbed on the chassis, fire was supercharged when it burnt through the air line.
Saw the remains in the North West of a sedan that took a corner too fast and ended up off the road.
The driver got out as they were shaken and unfortunately they had stopped with the exhaust on a clump of spinifex and up went the car.
Just glad nobody was hurt. It would be very heartbreaking though, we too own a converted bus and just love it.
Not amazed.
Completely expected.
They are mobile tinder boxes. I have worked on many and none,, not matter what brand or make, motorhome or caravan can compare to the quality of a car, truck or machinery build. They are made to look nice but behind all the gloss and shine there is cheap nasty wiring, water lines gas lines wooden frames. There is a perfect mix for fire. Hot components wiring, and water. Water can create a short, heat will combust materials.
Take care keep your leisure vehicle maintained. Reduce chance of fire.
Dennis, fair comment regarding fuses,other reasons include incorrect size fuses and wireing. Also poor installation and work manship..i puchased a new jayco optumum motorhome and found the 12volt wireing to be the worst i have ever seen, haphazard, springs to mind, being a electrian i can say most of 240volt system is ok, ” just”.
My 2nd hand jayco was very ordinary too
Ive since wired in a fusebox & neatened up the wiring
Now if something goes wrong a fuse will blow on a separate circuit & easy to find a fault, dont know why it isn’t done at factory
We we’re traveling in the USA and had stopped at a rest area.As we were about to leave we looked across the highway at the rest area on the other side and there was a RV that had caught fire. We we’re so shocked as we watched it go up in flames and the Fire services were there in a flash and extinguished the fire before the gas cylinder was effected. It only took about 10 mins to totally destruct.
Just had my vehicle serviced, picked it up and travelled about 10kms when I noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment(front engine). By the time I got it off the road & stopped I couldn’t see for putrid black smoke. I completely forgot about the fire extinguisher in my panic to exit the vehicle as it had only 1 mid entry door. My Dad following along behind dived in & grabbed the extinguisher & managed to put the small fire out. We think it was caused by a piece of the fire & noise retardant material falling from the underneath of the hatch onto the hot engine.
Have just survived a camper fire, I really feel for them, shit happens but it does affect you more than you realise. Talk it out and count your blessings.