Fire engulfs motor home, spreads to riverbed

Motor home fire triggers emergency riverbed response, halts railroad operations

– Atascadero Fire & Emergency Services responded to a motor home fire at 2:13 p.m. on Sunday at the Home Depot parking lot located at 905 El Camino Real. Upon arrival, firefighters found the motor home fully engulfed in flames, with the fire spreading to nearby vegetation. The fire had extended into an area approximately 30 feet by 100 feet, affecting brush and trees, according to a press release from the city.

Additional resources were requested from Paso Robles Fire, San Miguel Fire, and Cal Fire San Luis Obispo to bring the fire under control. Before all the additional firefighters and equipment could arrive, the fire spread about a quarter mile into the riverbed, reaching an area behind several buildings. This prompted further requests for engines, aircraft, bulldozers, and hand crews.

Crews took approximately one hour to control the fire, followed by an additional hour and a half of mop-up operations. For safety reasons, railroad operations were temporarily shut down during the incident. No injuries to fire personnel were reported.

The motor home owner and his dog exited the vehicle when the fire started. The owner was evaluated and transported to a local hospital by San Luis Ambulance for minor burn injuries.

The motor home was declared a total loss, and the fire burned a half-acre of vegetation. The cause of the fire is under investigation.