SEQUIM — A Winnebago RV caught fire early Sunday evening on U.S. Highway 101 near Sequim with a Tacoma Fire Department firefighter at the wheel.
Driver Ann Marie Craig of Orting, who was traveling alone, stopped the burning vehicle on the shoulder of Highway 101 near Simdars Road at about 7:15 p.m. Sunday, escaping injury before her 1993 “mini” Winnebago was quickly engulfed in flames, Sequim-area Fire District No. 3 Chief Eric Quitslund said Monday.
It appears the fire started in the engine, he said.
Craig declined Monday to comment on the incident, saying she needed to talk to her insurance company.
“We’re good,” she said.
Quitslund said Craig was traveling eastbound on 101 when a driver following her warned her something was amiss.
“Smoke was coming out from behind the vehicle,” Quitslund said.
“That’s when the car that was following behind her started flashing lights at her.
“That’s when she discovered her vehicle was on fire.”
Quitslund said Craig stopped on the side of 101 at Milepost 266 and popped the hood.
“Flames were rolling out,” he said. “At that point, it was well involved.
“She had a small fire extinguisher on board, but she recognized it was too small to be effective, so she just backed away, actually.”
By the time fire crews arrived, “at that point, the damage [was] done.”
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
