Fire spreads rapidly from towed vehicle to motor home

Clear Lake firefighters responded to a report of a vehicle engulfed in flames at mile marker 188 southbound on Interstate 35 at approximately 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 10.

According to a report from the Cerro Gordo County 

Sheriff’s Office, Earron Scott Shields, 38, of Albertville, Minn., was towing a Jeep behind a Class A motor home. 

According to CLFD Public Information Officer Billy Krefft, the department’s Engine 3304 arrived on scene and found a fully involved two-vehicle fire. The motor home towing the burning jeep had caught fire and the blowing north wind and heat from the towed jeep extended the fire southward into the larger vehicle. 

A quick knockdown was not achieved due to the volume of fire encountered and a lack of accessible water, Krefft said.

A second CLFD engine arrived minutes later, followed up by a tanker from Swaledale, a tanker from Clear Lake, and a pumper from Ventura Protective Association.  The Clear Lake brush truck was also called out, as a second grass fire was reported at the same time as the trailer-Jeep fire near the Avenue of the Saints exit.

The family from the motor home noticed the Jeep fire and quickly pulled over and grabbed some of their valuables.

  Clear Lake Police Chief Greg Peterson arrived to give the family and their few possessions a lift back to Clear Lake. 

The CLFD was assisted by Iowa State Troopers, Swaledale Fire, Ventura Fire and the CLPD.

There were no injuries.