Murrieta Gas Station Closed When RV Engine Catches Fire

A fire that was sparked inside a motorhome engine prompted authorites to close down a Murrieta gas station Tuesday.

At about 11:25 a.m. Tuesday, something in the engine compartment of a 1974 Pace Arrow caught fire as the motorhome was parked at a gas pump at .

The fire was quickly put out by someone using a fire extinguisher and then further by two arriving Murrieta fire crews.

The gas station was closed for precautionary measures, according to Murrieta fire Capt. Evan Tiss.

"Pumping gas and fire don't mix," Tiss said. "If the thing did burn up we would have two pumps exposed right there."

Pumps were closed and the parking lot was cordoned off to customers from about 11:30 a.m. to 12:17 p.m.

Robert Andrews, the 80-year-old owner of the motorhome, said he bought it about six months ago and had driven it home from Yucca Valley but hadn't used it since.

"It was just sitting there the whole time, I just fired it up today to try and use it," Andrews said.

The motorhome, which smelled of an electrical fire, was towed back to his residence on nearby Scott Road.

In a separate incident earlier in the day, as it traveled on Interstate 215 in Murrieta.