Local News

Motor homes destroyed in fire

Photos

Allen Moody | Highlands Today
Published: November 18, 2012

SEBRING - Two motor homes were destroyed in a Saturday morning blaze at Edwards Motors & RV's, located at 5247 U.S. 27 S. The damage could have been worse, but a stroke of good luck saw the firefighters at the DeSoto City Volunteer Fire Department already at the station.

"The thing is we were already at the station because we were doing a fundraiser today," said DeSoto City Volunteer Fire Department Chief Ben deBree. "We didn't even (have) to leave home since we were already at the station and just that little bit of time we saved … you already lost two vehicles and with this little bit of breeze, flames were blowing right up against the second one."

DeBree said the fire began when employees tried to start one of the motor homes and it sparked, catching fire, and flames spread to the next vehicle before it was contained.

"With the wind blowing, it just blew the fire into the motor home next to it," he said.

DeBree said the ability of the flames to spread so fast during a motor home fire is always a concern for firefighters.

"You never know what's in them, if somebody's living in them or if somebody's using them for storage," he said. "Who knows nowadays what they're used for?"

The West Sebring Volunteer Fire Department also responded to the call.

"I appreciate the hard work of everybody and the fast response time," deBree said.

There were no injuries sustained in the fire.