2 people seriously injured in RV explosion
Two people were severely injured early Tuesday morning following an explosion that happened inside their RV. The couple’s two dogs were unharmed.
According to Charly McMurdie, a spokesperson for the Rural/Metro Fire Department, firefighters responded to the Riverfront RV Park, located at 2300 W Water St., shortly before 2 a.m. for a report of an explosion.
“Several calls came in to the dispatch center,” McMurdie said. “They all reported hearing an explosion, but only one caller said that they saw a fire and that it was out.”
Another caller, according to McMurdie, also reported that two people may be trapped inside the RV, but as it turned out, that had not been the case.
McMurdie said the RV was not on fire when firefighters arrived on scene, but that it had sustained severe damage. Neighbors were also assisting the man and woman who lived there.
“Firefighters quickly secured the utilities and checked for anyone else who may have been injured in the blast,” McMurdie said.
The two injured individuals, who are believed to be winter visitors, were transported by Rural/Metro ambulance to Yuma Regional Medical Center, and quickly flown to a Phoenix-area hospital due to the severity of their wounds.
“A neighbor is taking care of the couple’s two dogs for the time being,” McMurdie said. “She said they were a bit singed, but okay.”
The force of the explosion, according to McMurdie, blew the roof and back wall of the RV completely off. A large portion of the back wall, she added, landed in a neighboring back yard.
The Red Cross was notified and will provide assistance if needed. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation by authorities.