“It saved our rig, it probably saved us, it gave us the time to get out safely, because we have propane on board as well,” said Michelle Anderson, owner of a Tiffin Phaeton.
Just before midnight on July 7, Michelle was sleeping in her RV at Narrows Too Campground in Trenton, Maine, when she woke up to find it filled with smoke. As she exited the vehicle, she heard a loud bang. THIA activated and suppressed the fire.
Michelle has been camping for over 35 years and installed THIA in 2021. Four years later, it protected her husband, her dogs, her asset, and nearby campers. Narrows Too Campground is a popular destination for RV owners near Maine. It is located 15 minutes from Acadia National Park, which saw over 208,700 overnight visitors in 2024.
“This wasn’t just any ordinary suppression system because where the suppression system activated, it made perfect sense,” said Steve Heckman, Chief of the Trenton Fire Department.
When firefighters arrived on scene, they grabbed their hoses and prepared to fight a fire, only to find no flames. They were able to carefully remove a stackable washer and dryer without causing further damage. The fire was caused by an electrical issue with the hot water heater.
Many small towns and rural areas rely on volunteer fire departments for emergency response, including Trenton. If you would like to support the Trenton Fire Department, please click the link below.