Propane-fed RV fire in Eugene displaces two, kills dogs

Flames under an RV floor turned a late-night fire in Eugene into a propane hazard fast enough that firefighters had to back out and switch tactics. Two occupants got out safely before crews arrived in the 700 block of 28th Street shortly after midnight on April 10, but two dogs died inside the vehicle.

Eugene Springfield Fire said Battalion 3 and Engine 14 reached the scene in under two minutes and found a working fire. Crews initially attacked the blaze from inside the RV, then discovered fire burning beneath the floor had compromised multiple propane tanks. That created unstable conditions, so firefighters withdrew and moved to an exterior attack to contain the propane-fed fire before resuming suppression.

Both occupants were evaluated for injuries at the scene, and no human injuries were reported. The American Red Cross responded to help with temporary housing for the displaced pair.

The fire underscored how quickly RV fires can intensify when propane systems are involved, especially when flames spread out of sight under a floor and into fuel sources. In that kind of fire, the difference between a survivable escape and a fatal one can be minutes or even seconds, which makes early evacuation and clear access for fire crews critical.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The overnight response also came hours after a separate fire in the 1300 block of F Street on April 9, a reminder that Eugene Springfield Fire crews were already handling multiple overnight incidents across Eugene and Springfield.

For people living in RVs or mobile homes, the scene on 28th Street shows how important it is to treat the smell of gas, heat near the floor, or smoke under the unit as an immediate evacuation trigger. For nearby residents, it is a reminder that parked vehicles with propane tanks can become serious fire risks in dense neighborhoods, where access for engines and firefighters can affect how quickly a blaze is contained.