Motorhome fire closes Columbia Avenue

By Kyra Hoggan

Columbia Avenue was temporarily closed this afternoon after a motorhome burst into flames in the parking lot of the Mowhawk gas station.

Acting fire chief Dwayne Monsen said the motorhome owner, a local, had just pulled up to the propane tank to fuel up for a weekend getaway when things went sideways.

"He turned off the ignition, and flames started shooting out of the engine compartment," Monsen said.

The Castlegar Fire Department was called at around 1:30 p.m., and police cordoned off the thoroughfare until the fire had been extinguished.

"It was particularly scary in that it was parked right in front of a large propane tank," Monsen said. "Closing Columbia (Avenue) was a necessary precautionary measure."

Firefighters quickly dealt with the blaze, and no one was injured, but Monsen said he imagines the vehicle will be a write-off.

"It (the fire) completely destroyed the engine compartment, and filled the rest of the motorhome with smoke," he said.

The cause of the fire remains unknown.