ST. GEORGE — Bystanders jumped in to help when a travel trailer caught fire on Old Highway 91 in Littlefield, Arizona, a blaze that destroyed the trailer and left the occupant displaced Tuesday morning.
Shortly before 10:30 a.m. MDT, firefighters were dispatched to a fire involving a travel trailer parked near the Beaver Dam Station and Bar on North Old Highway 91.
Beaver Dam-Littlefield Fire Chief Jeff Hunt told St. George News the incident was less than a mile from the fire station, which allowed for a quick responseFire crews arrived within minutes of the page to find two bystanders dousing the flames with garden hoses.
“Those bystanders were doing what they could without any gear or equipment really, other than the hoses,” Hunt said. “But they were just in there trying to help stop the spread of the fire.”
Fire crews initiated an aggressive attack on the blaze, which was quickly spreading throughout the interior of the trailer. The suppression efforts were successful in confining the flames to the inside of the trailer.
Even so, Hunt said, the interior of the travel trailer was completely destroyed, as well as a majority of the contents inside. He also said the trailer was unoccupied when the fire started, adding the woman living in the trailer was not home at the time. The resident drove up while fire crews were still busy tackling that blaze.
Once the active flames were extinguished, fire crews remained at the scene pulling ceiling material and checking for hot spots, a task that continued for about 45 minutes or so.
Hunt said the scenario of this particular fire was peculiar, considering that with most fires involving this type of structure, the shell or skin of the trailer catches fire and burn as the flames extend throughout the trailer. But in this case, he said, the exterior skin of the structure remained relatively intact.
“We just don’t normally see that,” Hunt added.
The fire appears to have started near one of the outside compartments that connect to the refrigerator inside the trailer, a compartment that Hunt said encased some cabling, wires and other materials that could have been damaged, since one of the covers appeared to be missing. The chief went on to say he was speculating at that point, adding the investigation into the cause is still ongoing.
The trailer was destroyed in the blaze and the occupant appeared to be making emergency arrangements over the phone when fire crews were still at the scene. If the resident is unable to find emergency shelter, Hunt said, then the Arizona Red Cross can step in to help with temporary shelter and provisions.
The Beaver Dam-Littlefield Fire and Rescue responded and tended to the scene, along with deputies with the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office that were called in to assist.
The fire damage was confined to the travel trailer itself and no injuries were reported.
This report is based on statements from police, emergency personnel or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
Photo gallery
Inside of travel trailer parked on Old Highway 91 is destroyed when a fire burns through interior and leaves a resident displaced in Littlefield, Ariz., April 19, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Beaver Dam-Littlefield Fire and Rescue, St. George News Heavy smoke billows from travel trailer parked on Old Highway 91 as bystanders jump in to help until fire crews arrive in Littlefield, Ariz., April 19, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Beaver Dam-Littlefield Fire and Rescue, St. George News Firefighters tackle blaze burning in a travel trailer parked on Old Highway 91 in Littlefield, Ariz., April 19, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Beaver Dam-Littlefield Fire and Rescue, St. George News 
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