PORT ANGELES — A father and son lost their home Wednesday when fire severely damaged the 33-foot recreational vehicle they were living in at Olympic Pines RV park west of Morse Creek Curve.
The men, estimated in their 60s and 30s, were getting ready to leave for the day when they noticed smoke coming from behind the microwave in their 1995 Winnebago shortly before 8 a.m. Wednesday, Deputy Fire Chief Justin Grider, Clallam County Fire District 2, said Thursday.
“They saw the smoke and tried to figure out where it was coming from, but the fire had already taken hold,” Grider said, adding it was suspected to have been electrical in origin.
The father and son, whose identities were unavailable Thursday, doused the flames with fire extinguishers.
Neighboring RV dwellers at the 58-year-old, 34-space facility at 521 Lee’s Creek Road, located behind the U.S. Highway 101 Safeway grocery store, rushed to help out with their own fire extinguishers.
“That’s a tight community, and they take care of each other over there,” Grider said.
But it was too late.
By the time firefighters arrived from Station 21, little more than a mile away, flames had breached the confines of the motorhome.
The fire was extinguished within six minutes, but smoke and heat damage permeated the vehicle, especially in the kitchen area, Grider said.
Most of the 34 spaces were filled at Olympic Pines, which was established in 1963 by Alfred and Ruth Schell.
The flames were confined to the single RV.
“Yesterday morning was calm and cool, with no wind,” Grider said.
“The fire was venting vertically. The neighbors on one side moved their car, just in case.”
The father and son had another vehicle they use for transportation, Grider said.
He said the American Red Cross, 360-457-7933, was notified to assist the men.
Two engine companies, one ambulance and two command vehicles responded to the fire with 10 personnel. A Clallam County Sheriff’s Office deputy assisted with traffic control.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@ peninsuladailynews.com.
