UPDATE: Burning motor home closes section of Highway 75 in Bellevue

Wednesday morning, fire crews respond to a vehicle engulfed in flames near Main and Poplar...
Wednesday morning, fire crews respond to a vehicle engulfed in flames near Main and Poplar streets in Bellevue. Image courtesy Mindy Fox.(KMVT)
Published: Jun. 5, 2019 at 11:06 AM MDT
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A burning motor home shutdown part of the State Highway 75 in Bellevue on Tuesday.

Bellevue Fire Chief Greg Beaver said fire crews were called at about 10:16 a.m. to the corner of Main and Poplar streets. There crews found flames climbing up the sides of a Freightliner motor home. Beaver said the driver and his pet escaped uninjured.

Fire crews had the fire out within 10-15 minutes and under control within a half hour. The incident blocked both direction of the roadway for an hour and a half. One lane was still blocked as of 5:40 p.m. with a tow truck on-scene.

Beaver said they believe the fire was caused by an emergency brake that was in use. He said the driver left the Ohio Gulch area and traveled about 10 miles with the brake on. He believes the brakes caught on fire, blew a tire then began burning the motor home.

Beaver believed the motor home suffered some internal damage from heat and smoke and the fire penetrated parts of the interior.

Two engines from Bellevue, one from Wood River Fire Department and a “heavy rescue” from Hailey responded to the scene.

The Blaine County Sheriff’s Office posted an alert on its Facebook page at about 10:30 a.m. telling drivers to be aware of first responders in the area and that traffic was being rerouted. The sheriff’s office helped direct traffic in the area.

INITIAL STORY:

Both lanes on State Highway 75 near Bellevue were blocked for a vehicle on fire Wednesday afternoon.

The Blaine County Sheriff’s Office posted an alert on its Facebook page at about 10:30 a.m. The sheriff’s office said the vehicle on fire was near Main and Poplar streets. Northbound lanes were reopened about noon.

Crews were responding to a motor home on fire. First responders are on scene and traffic is being diverted.

Check back for updates.

Update 12:00 pm the vehicle fire has been extinguished and law enforcement are working on reopening traffic on Hwy 75....

Posted by Blaine County Sheriff on Wednesday, June 5, 2019