Fire destroys RV, injures owner at Home Depot in Atascadero
A fire destroyed a motor home in Atascadero on Sunday afternoon, injuring the owner, spreading into surrounding vegetation and requiring backup to put out the flames, according to a news release from the city of Atascadero.
The owner of the motor home was able to exit the vehicle with his dog when the fire started, the city said, but he was transported to a local hospital by San Luis Ambulance for treatment of minor burn injuries. No injuries were reported from emergency personnel.
At 2:13 p.m. on Sunday, Atascadero Fire & Emergency Services responded to reports of an RV on fire in the parking lot at Home Depot at 905 El Camino Real, the release said.
Neighbors and passersby posted pictures of the flames and smoke on Facebook.
In one video, a passenger of a car driving by can be heard saying, “That’s a lot of smoke.”
When engines arrived at the scene, the motor home was fully engulfed in flames, which had begun to spread into surrounding vegetation and the nearby riverbed, according to the release.
Additional resources were requested from Paso Robles Fire, San Miguel Fire and Cal Fire San Luis Obispo to bring the fire under control.
By the time all resources had arrived, the fire covered an area of approximately a quarter-mile into the riverbed and behind several surrounding structures, the release said. Additional engines, aircraft, bulldozers and hand crews were called to the scene.
The fire was extinguished after about an hour, according to the release. Railroad operations shut down during the fire for crew safety.
In total, the fire destroyed the motor home and burned a half-acre of vegetation, the release said.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and under investigation.
This story was originally published August 12, 2024 at 1:24 PM.
