Truck and camper catch fire in White Pass area near Skagway, Alaska

CBC
·2 min read
Fire officials in Skagway, Alaska, say a truck hauling a camper caught fire on Friday afternoon, at the summit of the White Pass. There are no reported injuries. (Skagway Fire Department/Facebook - image credit)
Fire officials in Skagway, Alaska, say a truck hauling a camper caught fire on Friday afternoon, at the summit of the White Pass. There are no reported injuries. (Skagway Fire Department/Facebook - image credit)

Fire officials in Skagway, Alaska, say a truck hauling a camper caught fire on Friday afternoon, at the summit of the White Pass.

The incident closed the South Klondike Highway near the Canada-U.S. border for a period while fire crews dealt with the blaze.

In a statement, Skagway fire chief Emily Rauscher said the Dodge diesel truck was "fully engulfed with flames and black smoke." She said the fire had started in the engine compartment and then spread to the camper the truck had been towing.

Rauscher said the vehicle had North Carolina licence plates. She said the owners managed to safely get out of the burning vehicle, and there were no reports of injuries.

Firefighters draw water from a mountain waterfall to put out a vehicle fire in the White Pass summit area near Skagway, Alaska, May 24, 2024.
Firefighters draw water from a mountain waterfall to put out a vehicle fire in the White Pass summit area near Skagway, Alaska, May 24, 2024.

Firefighters were able to draw water from a small pool they created by damming a waterfall on the mountain. (Skagway Fire Department/Facebook)

It happened in a remote, high-elevation area, with no cell service and no fire hydrants nearby. Rauscher said emergency responders were able to draw water to fight the fire, from a small pool they created by damming a waterfall on the mountain.

Along with responders from Skagway, firefighters from Carcross and Mount Lorne in the Yukon were also on the scene.

"I can't begin to tell you how amazing it was to be able to call on our Yukon neighbours, and them just to be able to offer assistance," Rauscher told CBC News.

Firefighters respond to a vehicle fire on the Klondike Highway near Skagway, Alaska.
Firefighters respond to a vehicle fire on the Klondike Highway near Skagway, Alaska.

The incident closed the highway for a period on Friday afternoon, as many tourists were trying to get back to their cruise ships in Skagway. (Skagway Fire Department/Facebook)

Once the fire was under control, the highway was reopened to one lane. That allowed other tourist vehicles to get to Skagway after waiting for a while. The highway is the only road into the town.

"There were at least two of the big motor coaches, but then there's also the smaller private tours, but they have probably, I would guess, like 30-passenger vans, 15- to 30-passenger vans. So a lot of those. And then you have your independent travellers that were trying to catch the ferry," Rauscher said.

Rauscher said the fire is believed to be "accidental in nature," and that the investigation is continuing.

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