Animal nest possibly sparks truck, trailer fire

SILVERTON – Fire crews with Shoshone County Fire District No. 1 responded on to a vehicle fire near Silverton last Friday afternoon that was possibly caused by an animal nest.

Upon arrival to the scene in Revenue Gulch, fire fighters found the engine compartment of a 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 fully engulfed in flames and an exposure fire on the front of the owner’s camper trailer parked next to the truck.

Both fires were extinguished quickly and entry was made into the camper trailer to check for secondary flames. Heavy smoke was found in the interior, but no active fire. Crews even removed the front fiberglass siding of the trailer to confirm that everything had been fully extinguished.

According to SCFD No. 1 fire fighter Victor Malsom, the owner stated that he did not drive the truck very often, but had taken it into town that day. The owner believes that it was during this trip into town that the exhaust ignited an animal nest built inside the truck. When he returned to his camper trailer, he smelled smoke and discovered the fire in the engine compartment after he had parked.

This possible cause of ignition has not been confirmed by officials.

No injuries were reported as a result of the incident.