Escapees September-October 2023

camping chair chat

moving debris as fast as they could, trying to free Ken. Greg jumped in to help. Dennis turned his attention to fi ghting the expanding fi re using the 50-ft. hose at each lot, required by the SKP Co-Op. It helped slow the fi re’s spread but wasn’t enough to extinguish it. Ken shed his pajama bottoms to get free and Dale and Greg carried him to safety. Now, several people from the SKP Co-Op were trying to help in any manner. Finally, a siren announced the ambulance’s arrival. The fi re was expanding rapidly, and Denniswas fi ghting a losing battle as the 5th wheel on 63caught fi re. Also, the Casita on 61 began to burn, and we are still waiting for fi re equipment. There were several smaller explosions on 62. Probably the tires, but we feared it was the propane tanks, as the fi re continued to spread. Ammunition started to explode in the trailer on 62. At last, the fi rst volunteer fi re truck arrived after nearly a half hour. Crewed by only two people, they laid downa fi rehose to a far-away hydrant. There was still no water on the fi re when Ken’s and Karen’s car started to burn. There was a lot of concern as the fl amesmoved closer to the gas tank. Fortunately, another fi re truck arrived from the south on Yucca, where it put out the vehicle fi re using water onboard. The fi fth wheel on 63 burnt to the ground in about 11 minutes. It, too, had exploding tires and ammunition, which drove fi rst responders back for a while. Heat could be felt as far as away as 500 feet. The fi re destroyed a fi fth wheel, two trailers and a Casita. The Casita on 61 was heavily damaged. Ken and Karen, who have been SKP Co-Op members since 1997, were left with nothing. Their insurance had expired, and they were in the process of fi nding a new carrier. A situation that didn’t seem urgent since the SKP Co-Op never had any serious fi res, and the wild fi re season was yet to start. Additionally, the insurance company for the fi fth wheel wants Ken and Karen to pay for it. The park has had fundraisers, and folks have made fi nancial donations. Sandy, another leaseholder, will provide them with her motorhome for as long as they want. Everybody is trying to help in various ways. The solar system needed to be removed to make Sandy’s motorhome available to Ken and Karen. A team took them down, and the techs waived or discounted their fees for removing the electronics and batteries. Fortunately, Ken’s burns are healing after several days in a care facility. He and Karen are getting back to some sort of normalcy. They are staying at another leaseholder’s RV. Their lot has been cleared, but it’s still a reminder, to all who pass, of what happened. After 30 years of full-time RVing, I have seen many RVs destroyed or damaged but never knew the persons involved. Here at SKP Saguaro Co-Op, we are all family.

Lessons Learned • Never go back into a burning RV for any reason. • Keep a “go bag” by the door that contains copies of important documents and items. • Make sure your insurance stays up-to-date. • Think about having a “ fi rst responders’ day” in your park. Show them how you live and give them lunch. They may have suggestions to make things safer. • Propane caused the explosion; however no propane tank exploded. The safety features worked. The smell of propane wasn’t tracked to a source. Lot 62 did have a regular gas hot water tank. (Interesting fact: About one in fi ve people can’t smell propane.) It's been a wake-up call for everyone at our park, and we hug everyone when possible. Flash, the cat, was found a couple of days later, hiding under the trailer at 61, with his ears and paw pads slightly burned and his whiskers gone. If you would like to donate, please make a check payable to Karen Phillips and send it to SKP Saguaro Co-Op Of fi ce, 600 E. Saguaro Dr. # 245, Benson, AZ 85602. By William Hewes #27411 US States with Billboard Bans I enjoyed reading about billboards in the May/June 2023 issue of Escapees magazine. It brought back memories of the Burma Shave signs which I always loved reading. Advertising In A Big Way

I am wondering how many people know that four US states have no billboards. Since our cottage is in Vermont, I knew about their billboard ban but, while research ing a bit more about Vermont, I learned that three other states also ban them. The fi rstwas Hawaii, in 1927. The fi rst conti

By DOROTHYRIEKE GuestContributor

ESCAPEES Magazine May/June 2023 40

BILLBOARDS

nental U.S. state to ban billboards was Vermont, in 1968, followed by Maine, in 1978, and Alaska, in 1998. Vermont has small, uniform signs that give tourists directions or distances to places. One way businesses in border towns in Vermont get around the billboard ban is to erect billboards a short distance across the border, in bordering states. If you are traveling in any of these four states, take notice and enjoy the natural beauty. Joyce Space #61818

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September/October 2023 ESCAPEES Magazine