Province Road fire razes RV that had propane tanks, ammunition inside

A large RV trailer was destroyed in an early morning fire at 1837 Province Road on April 30, but a fast response from firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading into nearby trees.
Crews were dispatched about 4:18 a.m. following multiple 911 calls of a growing fire and sounds of explosions, according to officials with Whatcom County Fire District 5.
The department initially responded with the night crew and additional volunteers, eventually bringing a total of nine personnel and four pieces of apparatus to the scene, including two engines and a support vehicle carrying extra air tanks and equipment. Firefighters arrived within just over five minutes to find the RV trailer engulfed in flames.
“When we showed up on scene, we had a fully involved large RV trailer,” Assistant Chief John Shields said. “There were some small explosions when we got there from the propane tanks and the tires on the trailer itself.”
Because the trailer was located in a wooded area, firefighters first focused on preventing the fire from spreading into nearby trees.
“When we got there, it was starting to spread into the trees beside the RV itself,” Shields said. “So our first thing was to suppress the fire in the tree line before we got onto the trailer itself.”
Officials said the RV was a “toy hauler” trailer equipped with a generator and a large onboard fuel tank. Firefighters later learned ammunition was also stored inside.
“There were three 100-pound propane tanks and probably eight or 10 smaller tanks around the trailer,” Shields said. “We had to be cautious of propane tanks and ammunition going off.”
Although several loud noises were reported by nearby residents, firefighters said those sounds were likely caused by propane tanks venting or tires rupturing in the heat.
“The propane tanks don’t explode — they vent,” Shields explained. “They sound like jet engines.”
The fire marshal investigated the scene and found nothing suspicious. Officials believe the fire may have been caused by an electrical issue, although the exact cause could not be confirmed.
The owner of the trailer was reportedly in Florida at the time of the fire and was notified by firefighters after crews arrived on scene. The RV was being used as a full-time residence.
The fire was largely brought under control within the first 30 to 45 minutes, officials said, though crews remained on site for four hours to ensure no hot spots remained.
Firefighters are reminding residents to turn off electrical appliances before leaving home or going on vacation and to store ammunition and propane tanks safely away from potential fire hazards.
In other fire related news, at the Fire District Meeting on May 13, Ray Smith was elected as the new commissioner.