RV fire threatens homes in Bloomington Hills

Written by Chris Reed
May 22, 2024

ST. GEORGE — The start of a trip to Southern Utah was met by flames for a few visitors, but firefighters worked to make sure a fire engulfing a recreational vehicle in a Bloomington Hills driveway didn’t take out the home of the hosts early Wednesday morning. 

The aftermath seen a few hours after a fire consumed a recreational vehicle parked in a Bloomington Hills driveway, St. George, Utah, May 22, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

The fire in a cul-de-sac of a southeastern St. George neighborhood was reported around 5:30 a.m. in an RV parked in the driveway on the 3000 block of South Cherry Circle. 

St. George Fire Battalion Chief Coty Chadburn said it was a loud sound that alerted those inside the RV that there was a problem.

“They just got in town late last night,” Chadburn said. “They heard a loud pop inside and woke them up, and then there was smoking. And then they got out.”

For a time, the home the guests were visiting had to be evacuated. The fire also threatened a two-story home next door. Chadburn said it took 15 minutes to douse the RV fire. But other than some smoke damage to the home it was parked at, the destruction was limited to the motorhome.

A sign is seen on the back of a recreational vehicle that was consumed in flames, St. George, Utah, May 22, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

“How RVs are made, they go up fairly quick,” Chadburn said. “It was just lucky that they were able to get out in time.” 

Four hours after the fire was extinguished, hose water could still be seen dripping from the bottom of the RV with Montana plates. The message on a sign hung on the back of the RV could still be read: “Enjoy Life Be Creative Laugh Always.” 

The RV was completely gutted from back to front with only the metal and springs of the front seats visible. A fire extinguisher, charred debris and ash could still be seen in the neighboring yard.  

Chadburn said the cause of the fire has not been determined.

Updated 1 p.m., Wednesday, May 22: Name of battalion chief corrected.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2024, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chris Reed serves as a reporter for St. George News, where he has been honored with several awards from the Society of Professional Journalists for his work, including first-place accolades. He started his journalism career as a sports reporter and editor in Southern California where he once compared shoe sizes with Shaquille O'Neal and exchanged mix tapes with members of the Los Angeles Kings. After growing up in the San Fernando Valley learning karate skills from Mr. Miyagi and spending a decade in Las Vegas mostly avoiding the casinos, he came to St. George for love and married his soulmate, a lifetime Southern Utah resident. He is the proud father of two boys, his youngest a champion against both autism and Type 1 diabetes.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGNews

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