A 25-foot motorhome with a trailer loaded with a Jeep and four motorbikes was headed up state Route 410 inside Mount Rainier National Park Friday when it experienced difficulty going over the pass. The motorhome was pulled over on the side of the road when park rangers contacted the driver and recommended he let the engine cool off and start up again in about a half hour.

The driver started the motorhome up in less than five minutes and a fire broke out in the engine compartment. The driver and his three passengers bailed out of the vehicle. Rangers responded to the scene and assisted the driver in breaking off the trailer and separating the Jeep and motorbikes from the inferno. The burning motorhome began rolling backward down the highway, rolling into the Jeep. The fire was so intense the Jeep became engulfed and several explosions occurred from the propane tanks in the motorhome and the external gas tanks on the Jeep.

Greenwater Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene and knocked down the flames, cooled down the molten vehicles and prevented additional trees from igniting. Portions of the road were damaged from the flames. Both vehicles were a complete loss, but no injuries were incurred by the vehicles' occupants or responders.