Propane tank at root of Amherst County trailer fire

By Dave Thompson

Published: October 18, 2008

A 100-gallon propane tank caused a dangerous situation for Amherst County firefighters responding to a trailer fire Saturday afternoon.

Chief Rick Hunter, with the Monelison Volunteer Fire Department, said the fire happened around noon on Sprouse Drive in Faulconerville.

The trailer affected by the fire sat about 30 yards away from other trailers in the park, he said.

Due to the threat of a propane explosion, Hunter said, four of the surrounding trailers were evacuated.

“When I got there right behind the engine, I could hear it venting above the other noise, so it was making quite a fuss.”

Hunter said firefighters had to dedicate one hose exclusively to cooling the propane tank.The escaping propane, he said, burned for about 45 minutes. The main fire was put out in about 25 minutes.

Hunter said two people lived in the house, one of whom was home at the time of the fire.

He said she went back into the house, after initially escaping, to try to rescue her cat. Fortunately, he said, she escaped again unharmed.

“Always a bad idea to go back in because you may get overcome by the smoke or, you know, toxic fumes, and it makes the fire that much worse,” he said, “allowing air to enter the house before we get there.”

Though firefighters couldn’t find the cat, Hunter said according to one neighbor, the cat escaped.

He said the occupants did not have fire insurance.

The Red Cross was called to the scene, but Hunter was not sure of any arrangements. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The Amherst Fire Department, Amherst Rescue Squad, Monelison and Pedlar volunteer fire departments responded to the scene.