A 61-year-old man was airlifted Friday, Sept. 13, to after an explosion propelled him out of his recreational vehicle.

Battalion Chief Chris Turner with Clallam County Fire District 3 said first responders responded at 12:05 p.m. Sept. 13 to the 1100 block of Taylor Cutoff Road for a reported RV structure fire.

Firefighters arrived to discover the RV was fully involved with fire and neighbors were tending to the man in grass nearby.

Turner said the man was trying to extinguish a fire inside, and based on witness statements, an explosion forcefully pushed him out of the RV.

“A neighbor quickly responded with a fire extinguisher and made a great attempt to stop the fire while other neighbors moved his car away from the fire,” Turner said.

“They were the ones who truly were the heroes.”

Medics initiated care for the man and determined Life Flight was needed to treat his burns.

His identification and status were not available on Monday, Sept. 16.

Photo courtesy Chris Turner, Clallam County Fire District 3/ Neighbors attempted to extinguish a fire inside an RV on Sept. 13 after an explosion forced its owner outside. Nearby residents also tended to the owner and moved his vehicle away from the fire as they awaited firefighters.

Fire District 3 officials said they requested the man be transported to the burn unit at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle; center officials could not confirm he was being treated there as of Sept. 16.

Firefighters attacked the fire and had a rapid knockdown of the flames that had consumed more than 75% of the 35-foot home, Turner said.

The RV and its contents were later deemed a complete loss, and the fire remains under investigation as of Monday.

In addition to career firefighters, eight volunteers responded to provide support with scene control, the investigation, clean up, and more.

More than 1,100 gallons of water was used to extinguish the fire, Turner said.

Olympic Ambulance and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife also provided assistance.