Early morning fire near Beaver Dam destroys fifth-wheel camp trailer; investigation is ongoing

Scene of a fire that burned a fifth wheel camp trailer near Beaver Dam, Arizona, May 15, 2018 | Photo courtesy of Brodie Rose, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — An early morning fire destroyed a fifth wheel camp trailer near Beaver Dam, Arizona, Tuesday. Officials say they believe the blaze was likely human-caused and are investigating whether it was deliberately set.

Beaver Dam/Littlefield Fire District Battalion Chief Andres Ojeda said fire crews responded shortly after 6 a.m. to a 911 call reporting a fire at a location off Desert Springs Road.

“They said that it was either a vehicle or a fifth wheel on fire, fully engulfed,” Ojeda said.

This 2017 St. George News file photo shows Beaver Dam/Littlefield’s brush truck, Littlefield, Arizona, Dec. 8, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Brent Pickering, St. George News

Because the road to the location is an unpaved, two-track path, Ojeda said, the department’s main fire engine was unable to access the site directly.

“Our Type 1 engine (Type 1 equipment is for the least complex fires) wouldn’t even make it through and had to come around the other way,” Ojeda said. “We had to take one of our brush trucks and one of our wildland engines.”

Mesquite Fire and Rescue also responded to the scene, he said.

Although crews were able to extinguish the blaze within a short time of arrival, the trailer and its contents were completely destroyed.

The trailer was unoccupied at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported, Ojeda said. However, at least two men were spotted running from the scene as firefighters arrived.

Sgt. John Bottoms of Arizona Department of Public Safety said four men were later found near the fire’s location and detained for questioning.

Scene of a fire that burned a fifth wheel camp trailer near Beaver Dam, Arizona, May 15, 2018 | Photo courtesy of Beaver Dam/Littlefield Fire District, St. George News

“They claimed to have been passing by the location, and when they noticed the fire, they approached he residence to see if anyone was inside,” Bottoms said. “They left when they determined no occupants were in the residence.”

Bottoms said the four men were released after receiving unrelated citations from the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office.

The fire also burned a large amount of debris in the surrounding area, Ojeda said, adding that it appeared that someone had been burning trash in a fire barrel nearby.

This is a developing story based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement and emergency responders. Investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2018, all rights reserved.

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2 Comments

  • Heaven May 16, 2018 at 8:40 pm

    First of all there were no 4 men second I was the one who called 911 and the care they are talking about was me backing up when I seen the fire truck was coming because I was trying to stop it from spreading and the other person in the car was the owner of the trailer and belongs and further more there was not 2 other people there how ever when the fire department was on the way up they passed a man walking and made a statement that someone had pulled him out if the fire and kept walking to go get help with a flat tire he had gotten when leaving and the individual had no promising be there this lady also almost lost her life 2years ago when at the same place someone set her place on fire and would do wonders if we can’t start a donation for her

  • Heaven May 17, 2018 at 5:52 pm

    I’m sorry for the miss spelled words I should have proof read before I post it

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