Friday the 13th, 2007

       It was a sunny July day, Friday the 13th and we were feeling good about ourselves for having gotten an early start on our trek across the eastern Oregon  mountains on our way to Redmond.  We left Boise at 7am and were in and out the Pilot truck stop in Ontario with plenty of day left to make a casual commute to our rally destination.  As I waited for the 150 gallon fuel tank to fill I did my usual walkaround looking at the tire pressure, towbar connections and engine bay for anthing awry.  All was well so we headed out for our scenic run over the mountains with camera at the ready.  As we started up a long but mild grade the coach was running great.  I started my routine check of the mirrors when the worst site I always feared came slamming back to my eyes from my drivers side mirror.  WE WERE ON FIRE!  I hit the emergency brake and was at the exit door with Karen at my side handing me a fire extinguisher.  I barked a strong order to get the other one and follow me when I heard Karen say, I can't find the other extinguisher in the smoke.  My mind raced as I went through the list of places I had extinguishers and it dawned on me that there was another one at the passenger seat.  I ran back for that one and met Karen outside for a look at what I had to fight to save our home.  When I got to the rear of the coach the back end was entirely covered with flame and the van being towed was burning as well.  I knew that instant there wasn't anything I could do to save the coach but I could possibly get the van disconnected if I could get it loose.  I emptied both extinguishers on the front of the van and amazingly enough the flame was out.  I started to disconnect when I realized the flames building on the back of the coach were searing my skin.  The idea of saving the van was dwindling and when I touched the tow bar it was obvious that I wasn't getting it disconnected.  Karen was there at my side asking what were we going to do but I just grabbed her arm and walked away from the coach for safety.

 

Karen and I stood there staring at the flames with astonishment and total disbelief.  This couldn't be happening, it only happens to other people and read in the newspaper the next day.  Our minds raced trying to think of what we could do to pause this horrifying scene but it was not stopping.  Matter of fact the flames were growing higher and higher.  A stranger tapped us on the back and said you better back up because the fuel tank on the van could explode.  We turned around to see a good samaritan standing there with concern on her face.  We started to walk away from our home but I didn't want to go.  I needed to do something!  My cell phone had no signal and there was no water to be found.  What could we do?  It was then I saw Karen had no shoes on.  She was upset that she not only left her shoes behind but somehow forgot her purse as well.  We held each other trying to find some sense of sanity in all this chaos.  I looked at the RV door standing open wondering if i could go back in to retreive some strand of our lives before it all was gone.  The flames were so hot now you couldn't get within a hundred yards without getting burnt.  I gave up and walked away. 

 

 

It took fouteen minutes before the first volunteer firemen arrrived.  He had a single pickup with a water tank on the back.  I was relieved to see him because the coach was already a total loss but the van looked like it could be saved if he could get the flames away from the gas tank.  He went to work on the van and it was looking as if he was winning.  Unknown to me the interior was burning fiercely and it was heading to the cargo area.    Not knowing this I was shocked to see the man open up the rear and flood the interior of the cargo area.  That probably saved the back of the van but the smoke had already done it's damage to the cargo.   

 

When the flames were about out the whole rig was merely a skeleton and a total loss.  I climbed to the top of the hill more to see what our home had been reduced to but to also get away from everyone for a moment.  It was above 95 degrees outside that day and the blacktop was probably raising the temperature to well over 100 degrees and here I was climbing a hillside.  I didn't even think about it at the time.  When I got to the top I remembered the cell phone camera I had on my hip so I instinctively took it out and snapped a keepsake to start our new photo album.  I stood there thinking to myself, now what?!

 

Two days have gone by since this tragedy and our phones have rung steadily with friends and family offering their support and best wishes.    We are without anything whatsoever except each other and a circle of great friends & family.  We have spent the last day or so buying day to day essentials like a tooth brushes and clothes and it amazing how much all this stuff can cost when gotten all at once.    We have been asked over and over if we need anything.  The answer is, we need everything but don't even have a place to put it at this time.  For the next few weeks we will be in Ontario, Oregon awaiting the barrage of appraisers and inspectors.  We're not sure what to expect exactly so if you know someone that has been through a scenario like this please ask them to call or email us.  We need to know what is coming and how we will get our lives back.    You can go to our Contact us page for a sellection of ways to contact us.

 

We have put this page together to let everyone know how we are doing but to also let fellow RVers know what can happen so they will be more prepared than we were in a tragedy like this.  We will continue to update this page so stay tuned to see where this quest leads.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

             Our Recovery Story