Wow, this sucks. 69 Camaro up in smoke in a trailer

[1970Moparmann]

Arlington Heights police and firefighter/paramedics responded about 2:42 p.m. Saturday to a report of a trailer on fire at Northwest Highway and Walnut Avenue. Firefighters arrived to find a 1969 Chevy Camaro inside a trailer on fire. Within minutes of the arrival of firefighters, the fire was blowing out the back door of the trailer. The trailer was a long race car/show car transport trailer being hauled by a white Chevy Silverado.

A witness driving behind the trailer said that the owner noticed possible smoke, but thought it was road dust at first, somewhere between Vail Avenue and Walnut/Ridge Avenue on westbound Northwest Highway. When the driver smelled smoke, he stopped and saw heavier white smoke coming out of the trailer. The back door of the trailer was open when firefighters arrived. The vehicle became fully-involved with flames as firefighters connected to the hydrant and charged the line. The fire was extinguished within about five minutes.

No injuries were reported.

The Chevy Camaro was being transported home to Palatine after it was on display at the Maine East High School Charity Car Show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTiw60aPXV8&feature=player_embedded

[PocketThunder]

That is horrible.  That lady needs to learn that firefighters are moving as quickly as they can.   

[terrible one]

That is horrible.  That lady needs to learn that firefighters are moving as quickly as they can.  

And bad move opening the back of the trailer up and providing the fire with an unlimited supply of air

[ACUDANUT]

I would have dropped the trailer and moved my truck away from the inferno.

[440]

Sad to hear but why weren't there any fire extinguishers in the trailer or truck ?

[elacruze]

I've had more than one person ask why I always check under the hood before I leave an event. This is something I never want to happen to me.

[ACUDANUT]

Yea right, you would need 2k of them.

[Cooter]

Battery disconnects save cars. Wonder if it was elelctrical, or "Other"....


Hope he had insurance.

[Aero426]

Yea right, you would need 2k of them.

There are automatic fire systems for trailers.   Not cheap, but worth it, I am sure.  

Probably the worst mistake was opening the back door.  

[nvrbdn]

really sucks.

[1BAD68]

Probably the worst mistake was opening the back door.  

Assuming they are driving from a show and some passing motorist tells them there is smoke coming from their trailer, just what should they have done?
Looks like the side door was locked from the inside. Bummer but thats what insurance is for.
The lady bitching about the fireman is an idiot

[Rolling_Thunder]

So...    moral of the story?  Don't half ass electrical and never trailer your car.   

[moparstuart]

Probably the worst mistake was opening the back door.  

Assuming they are driving from a show and some passing motorist tells them there is smoke coming from their trailer, just what should they have done?
Looks like the side door was locked from the inside. Bummer but thats what insurance is for.
The lady bitching about the fireman is an idiot

maybe they should have thrown the drop down door right back up untill the water was there

  also I can understand the lady's reaction in that moment , you feel helpless and I for one would be freaking the hell out  ( in that moment ) if it was any of my cars ..

[Ghoste]

Yeah I think I would have opened it.

[myk]

   Yup-that's the normal reaction for anyone...

[chargerboy69]

Sad to hear but why weren't there any fire extinguishers in the trailer or truck ?

I saw a discharged extinguisher laying on the ground in the video.  It did not look too big and was obviously not enough to put out the fire.

[myk]

I wonder what sort of wiring/electrical system it had.  I hope it was fully insured...

[ACUDANUT]

Moral of the story, disconnect the battery.

[Indygenerallee]

Moral of the story...shit happens.....

[Charger454]

Moral of the story...shit happens.....

Smartest comment yet

[1970Moparmann]

I guess that is why we have insurance.     At the end of the day, it's metal. 

I've been pretty lazy with disconnecting the battery (like I used to) and this will get my butt to do it again.

[myk]

But....disconnecting the battery would be just delaying the inevitable anyway-something was fundamentally wrong with the car.  I'd rather the car burned up on a trailer than during a cruise or a show with people in and/or around it...

[FLG]

But....disconnecting the battery would be just delaying the inevitable anyway-something was fundamentally wrong with the car.  I'd rather the car burned up on a trailer than during a cruise or a show with people in and/or around it...

Yes and no..i mean at a show around other cars, yep. But while driving it is probably safer than in the trailer as chances are you could have saw the smoke sooner and put it out before the shit hit the fan.

Bottom line, invest in a disconnect switch.

[Ghoste]

I would MUCH rather have it start on fire when I'm driving it or at a show when people are around to notice and possibly help than in a trailer.  The trailer I would think stands a greater chance of having the car end up completely destroyed as well as taking the trailer with it.

[myk]

I think it's important to view the lives of other people and other people's property as a first place priority over the Camaro or any one of our own cars, if we are ever in that situation, God forbid.  If the car burns up at a cruise or a show there are other people and other property that could be endangered.  If the car flames up in a trailer well, chances are the car will be isolated as it destroys itself, as it was in this case.  Personally, I could never live with myself if my actions or my property caused others harm or misery in that regard.  Besides, I don't know about you guys but my car's insured well; I'll just wind up behind the wheel of another, better car anyway...