Fire destroys RV near Palouse

Firefighters responded to a fire June 22 along Highway 272 which destroyed three vehicles and threatened others. Palouse Fire Chief Mike Bagott said crews responded at about 1:15 p.m. to the fire which was at a residence at the intersection of Highway 272 and Swanson Road.

Crews had the fire contained in about 30 minutes and extinguished by about 2:30. Two other vehicles parked next to the RV were also destroyed and other vehicles at the site were threatened.

Chief Bagott said they were lucky to get the alarm early enough to stop the fire from spreading to other vehicles and possibly structures at the location. The residents at the site were not at home, and the fire was believed to have been reported by a United Parcel deliveryman.

Cause of the fire is undetermined. It apparently began in the RV which had been plugged into an electrical circuit. The fire also initially has a suspicious tag because causes of other recent fires in the area have been undetermined, Bagott said.

Crews from Fire District 11 and Fire District 12 assisted at the scene, although some of the District 12 trucks were called off when it was determined they were not needed. Chip sealing now underway on Highway 27 between Palouse and Pullman complicated the response from Pullman.

A fire investigator from Pullman was at the scene June 22.