Firefighters extinguish RV fire near Old Olympic Road

Clallam County Fire District 3 firefighters responded to a total loss RV fire off Old Olympic Highway Wednesday afternoon.

Battalion Chief Chris Turner reports crews were dispatched at 3:14 p.m. June 5 to the intersection of Gasman Road and Old Olympic Highway east of Port Angeles for several reports of an RV in fire.

An Olympic ambulance crew returning from Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles was first on scene and confirmed the camper had been moved to adjacent Lemmon Road, Turner said.

The Carlsborg Fire Department then arrived to begin extinguishing the fire while the fire district's Tender 33 arrived on scene with 3,000 gallons of water to help completely extinguish the fire.

The owner of the RV escaped safely, but was unable to save her cat because the fire spread so quickly, Turner said.

Gasman Road was temporarily blocked from Old Olympic Road while firefighters worked on the blaze.

Deputies with the Clallam County Sheriff's Department planned to have the camper towed or dumped, Turner said.

The American Red Cross was contacted to help the RV owner find temporary housing.

Turner said the fire district encourages vehicle operators to keep a working fire extinguisher in their vehicle and, at the first sign of mechanical damage, to stop and check the situation, and to treat all fires when they are small and can be mastered quickly.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.