An RV hauling gasoline turned into a rolling fireball on eastbound Sunset Road just after 6 p.m. Thursday, leaving the driver with what police described as "significant" burns and shutting down traffic in the southwest Las Vegas valley. The fire broke out near Jones Boulevard and drew a sizable emergency response, with eastbound lanes after Jones closed while crews knocked down the flames and investigators combed through the charred vehicle.
Officials on the scene
Las Vegas police said the vehicle involved was an RV and that gasoline being carried in an unsealed container spilled and ignited, sending flames racing through the interior and seriously injuring the driver. The driver was taken to a nearby hospital with major burns, and investigators are still looking into how the fuel was stored and transported before the fire, according to 8 News Now.
Traffic snarled as crews responded
The Regional Transportation Commission reported that all eastbound lanes of Sunset Road past Jones Boulevard were blocked while fire and police units worked the scene, and traffic cameras showed a heavy emergency response, according to KTNV. FOX5 Las Vegas reports that police said the driver had been transporting gasoline in an open container inside the RV when the fuel spilled and ignited, and that officials had not immediately released an update on the driver's condition. Authorities urged motorists to steer clear of the area and use alternate routes until the scene was cleared.
Gasoline safety reminders
Gasoline vapors are highly flammable and can light off from a single spark, and safety experts warn that open or unapproved containers sharply increase the risk of spills and fast-moving fires. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and fire-safety guides advise using only approved, sealed fuel containers, keeping them upright, filling them on the ground to reduce static buildup, and securing any gasoline outside the passenger compartment while in transit. Officials say those basic steps can help prevent the sort of spill that led to Thursday's RV blaze.
Investigation continues
Las Vegas police and fire investigators remain on the case and have not released the driver's identity or current condition. Officials have asked drivers to avoid the stretch of Sunset Road while crews finish clearing the debris, and local coverage indicates that updates will be provided as more information becomes available, as reported by 8 News Now.
