Motorhome fire called ‘arson’

By Larry Judkins

Glenn County Observer

Sirens screamed through Orland and northern Glenn County Monday morning as emergency responders headed to the scene of a vehicle fire at Highway 32 and County Road O.

The call went out at about 5:24 a.m. Law enforcement officers arrived first on the scene, and the actual location of the burning vehicle was revised slightly to County Road O, just north of Highway 32.

The vehicle was then said to be a fully involved travel trailer.

A law enforcement officer reported “explosions” coming from the burning vehicle, so one lane (presumably the westbound lane) was shut down for a few minutes until the explosions stopped.

It is unknown whether the explosions were caused by rupturing tires, bursting propane tanks, or whatever.

At about 5:42 a.m., an emergency responder reported that the fire was arson.

Roughly 10 minutes later, the “travel trailer” was corrected to “motorhome,” approximately 25 feet in length.

At 6:03 a.m., the Orland Fire Department reported the blaze was “knocked down,” and the volunteers would be “mopping up” for a while longer.

At 6:11 a.m., the fire units began returning to quarters.

Presumably, arson investigators arrived at the scene sometime after this.

Early in the afternoon, The Glenn County Observer arrived at the scene, where Lewis Bambauer and Bambauer Towing employees were busy removing the thoroughly charred remains.