Crime & Safety

Cause of March 3 Fire at Ray's RV in Banning Still 'Undetermined'

Burned mobile homes are still parked at the business, Ray's RV owner Ray Boyd said Monday. Insurance company representatives have told him not to move them, Boyd says.

The cause of the March 3 fire that destroyed several motor homes and caused an estimated $1 million in damage at Ray's RV in Banning remained under investigation this week.

"The burned units are still parked out here," Ray's RV owner Ray Boyd said Monday afternoon. "Nothing's to be touched or moved until we get the OK from the fire department and the insurance companies."

The cause fire was considered undetermined and an investigation was continuing, Cal Fire Capt. Specialist Jackie Williams said in a phone interview.

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"When they went into this, everybody said this was going to take a long time," Boyd said. "The sheriff's department, the fire department, the insurance companies all said it was going to take a while."

The fire broke out the night of March 3 in a service area at Ray's RV, 4500 W. Ramsey St.

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Cal Fire Southern Region Chief Dale Hutchinson spotted the fire from Interstate 10 and reported it at 8:13 p.m., Cal Fire officials said.

Six engine crews responded from Banning, Beaumont and Calimesa and declared the blaze contained at 8:50 p.m. No injuries were reported but the blaze destroyed four RVs and caused an estimated total of $1 million damage, according to Cal Fire-Riverside County.

Three motor homes were gutted and insurance investigators were determining whether three other damaged RVs will be considered total losses, Boyd said.

Cal Fire Battalion Chief Jeff Stowells, the incident commander during the fire at Ray's RV, said water supply was an initial concern that was resolved during the fire fight.

"There was one hydrant there, and it wasn't in today's standards a good hydrant," Stowells said. "It had a 2-and-a-1/2 inch port so it limited the gallonage we could use.

"We secured a second hydrant further down the street, west of Ray's RV," Stowells said. "That increased our gallonage. We had no water issues."


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