Abandoned motor home burns in suspected arson

BARSTOW • Fire officials suspect arson in the burning of an abandoned motor home Friday afternoon.

The fire in the desert south of East Main Street and west of the Marine Corps Logistics Base, was reported at about 4:30 p.m. Barstow Fire Protection District Captain Nick DiNapoli said a California Highway Patrol officer spotted the blaze.

One engine and a water tender from the Barstow district and an engine from the MCLB responded to the call and had the fire knocked down within 10 minutes of arriving on scene, he said.

The motor home was a total loss, but DiNapoli said it was not inhabited and appeared to have been dumped in the desert.

Because there was no electricity to the structure, DiNapoli said he believed the fire was human-set, either intentionally or accidentally by someone using a cutting or grinding tool in an attempt to take copper wire to sell as scrap metal.

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(760) 256-4123 or asewell@desertdispatch.com