FIFTH FIRE DESTROYS MOTORHOME AT COCHRANE POND PARK

(July 4th)

A motorhome was destroyed by fire Saturday morning at Cochrane Pond Park Campground, marking the fifth fire at the campground since June 20th.

At approximately 10:55 a.m. on July 4th, firefighters with the St. John’s Regional Fire Department, along with other emergency services including the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, responded to the latest fire at the campground.

When crews arrived, they found thick black smoke billowing into the sky and a motorhome engulfed in flames at a separate campsite from the previous fires. The site was located approximately 100 to 200 metres farther into the campground, just beyond where the first three fires occurred.

Firefighters quickly deployed an attack line and had the blaze, including hotspots, were fully extinguished by 12:00 p.m.

The fire destroyed the motorhome but did not appear to spread to any other structures or the surrounding forested area, thanks to the quick response from the SJRFD.

The latest incident follows four previous fires at the campground over the past two weeks.

The first fire occurred on June 20th, at approximately 2:00 a.m. It was the first of three fires at the same campsite and destroyed a pickup truck, an ATV and a snowmobile located on the property.

Later that same day, at approximately 6:45 p.m., firefighters returned to the same campsite after another fire broke out. That blaze consumed the interior of a large shed, causing extensive damage.

A third fire occurred on June 25th, at approximately 1:00 p.m. Firefighters were once again called to the same campsite, where a large shed and a camper were destroyed.

A fourth fire occurred on July 3th, at approximately 2:20 p.m. Firefighters responded to a separate campsite where a camper was damaged and its attached addition was destroyed. Unlike the previous three fires, this was the first fire to occur at a different site. Saturday’s blaze marks the second consecutive fire at a separate campsite.