Investigators continue to search for answers two days after a deadly Tuesday morning blaze erupted at a Myrtle Beach, S.C. campground and claimed a mother and her son.
The fire began after an explosion rocked the Apache Family Campground early Tuesday morning. The victims were 62 and 37 and nearby or inside the camper at the time of the explosion. The fire quickly spread to several other campers, according to a statement Horry County Fire Rescue Chief Joey Tanner gave WSOC-TV.
Myrtle Beach tragedy: 2 people killed after explosion and fire at popular tourist destination: https://t.co/6VBYkdeszG. pic.twitter.com/DwNwDloofE
— Rikki Klaus (@RikkiKlausWSB) May 9, 2017
“All of a sudden this loud explosion happened,” Melissa Dewett told WSOC-TV. “This massive flame. I was like, ‘Oh my God.’”
Firefighters doused the flames within an hour, but two trailers were destroyed. Arson investigators are still looking into the cause of the explosion and subsequent fire.
Two die in fire at Myrtle Beach campground https://t.co/l1JkXWO3A6 #WCYB pic.twitter.com/NS2q0R3q5O
— News 5 WCYB (@news5wcyb) May 9, 2017
Fires can have lots of causes, particularly in RVs, trailers, and cars. A faulty part, leaky tank, or broken electrical system in an RV or camper can quickly turn your vacation into a nightmare.
Many Fires Aren’t Your Fault
Over 6,000 fires start in an RV every year according to Crossing Creeks, a prominent RV resort and spa located in North Georgia. Fortunately, there are several ways you can try to prevent a fire from breaking out in the first place.
Keeping up on your vehicle maintenance by patching flat tires, watching for leaky fluids and fuel lines, and checking for dry wheel bearings and broken brakes are a few of Crossing Creeks’ recommendations. But campers can be damaged in ways you can’t see.
RVs, campers, and motorhomes are frequently the target of product liability claims. It’s challenging for a company to package an entire home into a car, and sometimes this task leads to trouble. Poor design or defective parts can cause a camper or motorhome to go up in flames. With many of these live-in vehicles boasting high quality air conditioning, kitchens with ovens, and other electrical systems, the danger can be great.
Make sure to check with your manufacturer to see if there are any active recalls on parts of your trailer or RV. It’s possible a company may be liable for your burns or other injuries due to negligence.
Many of the campground’s longtime residents are grieving for the deceased and the injured man. “I see the mother and son walking all the time. Up on the pier all the time,” Dewett remembered for WSOC-TV. “They go for their daily walk. They were the sweetest people.”
(Editor’s Note: This is a news story from the ‘Morgan Monitor,’ a news wire offering legal perspectives on news in your community.)
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