More than a dozen campers caught fire at Camping World on Allegheny County Road 356 in Westmoreland County on Wednesday morning. The fire was reported around 4:40 a.m. Rachel Ramsey, who witnessed the fire from her home, said she heard about a dozen explosions. “We heard a really loud explosion and we saw a huge fire outside our window,” she said. Allegheny County Police Chief Dan Ankafer said they initially thought 15 campers were involved in the fire, but an update puts the number at 18. Ankafer said the explosions heard were from propane tanks in the vehicles. “It was nerve wracking. We were scared because we were worried the fire would spread or something would fly into our house, too,” Ramsey said. Ten fire departments responded to the scene. Ankafer said crews were on the scene quickly and had made it safe by the time they arrived. “Officers responded to the scene about seven minutes later and found the fire at the rear of the parking lot,” he said. “Quick response likely saved a lot of property.” The fire did not spread to the store. No one was taken to the hospital, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher. The cause of the fire has not yet been released. Investigators plan to review security camera footage from the store when it becomes available. The state police fire marshal is investigating.
Allegheny Township, Pennsylvania —
More than a dozen campers caught fire at Camping World on Route 356 in Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County, Wednesday morning.
The fire was reported at about 4:40 a.m.
Rachel Ramsey, who could see the fire from her home, said she heard about 12 explosions.
“I heard a really loud explosion and saw a huge fire outside my window,” she said.
Allegheny Township Police Chief Dan Ankafer said initially they thought 15 campers were involved in the fire, but an updated report puts the number at 18.
Ankafer said the explosion he heard came from a propane tank in the vehicle.
“I was nervous. I was worried it would spread or something would fly into my house and I was really scared,” Ramsey said.
Ten fire departments responded to the scene. Ankafer said firefighters were on the scene quickly and had made the area safe upon arrival.
“Officers were on scene approximately seven minutes later and observed fire at the rear of the car park,” he said. “We believe a number of properties were saved due to the quick response.”
The fire did not spread to the store.
A Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher said no one was taken to the hospital.
The cause of the fire has not been released initially, and investigators plan to review security camera footage from inside the store once it is available.
The state police fire marshal is investigating.
