VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — One person died and another escaped uninjured when a 5th-wheel camper caught fire in Virginia Beach Friday morning.
Firefighters responded to the scene of the fire near the corner of Dorset Avenue and Cleveland Street after recieving a call about it just after 7 a.m., according to a spokesperson for the Virginia Beach Fire Department.
“Reports were that the person that called was inside the camper and escaped the camper and that there was someone else inside the camper that did not make it out,” said Capt. Daniel Barakey with VBFD Battalion 5.
When fire crews arrived, the camper was fully on fire.
The surviving occupant of the trailer was uninjured and authorities notified the American Red Cross to assist him. The other occupant died at the scene.
Barakey said crews got the fire under control within four minutes.
“We did have to upgrade it to a commercial fire response because there were buildings that were close to the fire,” he said.
The camper was parked in a lot next to the Whitehurst Auto Tech.
The owners did not want to talk on camera, but told 13News Now they were lucky the fire didn't spread to the business.
Other nearby business owners who spoke off-camera said the camper had been there for a few years with someone living inside it.
No names have been released at this time, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
