More than a dozen RVs burn in fire at popular Southern California dealership

More than a dozen RVs went up in flames after a fire erupted at a well-known RV dealership in Santa Fe Springs overnight.

Police were the first to respond to Mike Thompson’s RV Superstore on Firestone Boulevard when a call came in for a possible burglary at 12:30 a.m.

Arriving officers noticed smoke coming from some of the RVs and called local firefighters who found several of the vehicles engulfed in flames.

  • More than a dozen RVs were destroyed in a fire at a dealership in Santa Fe Springs on May 9, 2024.
    More than a dozen RVs were destroyed in a fire at a dealership in Santa Fe Springs on May 9, 2024. (KTLA)
  • Signs of a homeless encampment are seen outside of Mike Thompson's RV Supercenter in Santa Fe Springs on May 9, 2024.
    Signs of a homeless encampment are seen outside of Mike Thompson’s RV Supercenter in Santa Fe Springs on May 9, 2024. (KTLA)
  • A fire broke out at an RV dealership in Santa Fe Springs on May 9, 2024.
    A fire broke out at an RV dealership in Santa Fe Springs on May 9, 2024. (OnScene.TV)

“The RV trailers quickly catch fire. They’re obviously parked close together so it was putting off a pretty good smoke header and there was visible flames,” Santa Fe Springs Batallion Chief Victor Marin said.

The crews used aerial ladders to douse the flames and contain the fire within the dealership.

Fourteen brand-new RVs, worth at least $150,000 each, were believed to be destroyed in the blaze. The dealership’s manager estimates the total losses at more than $2 million.

Fire officials are investigating the cause of the fire but the manager told KTLA that surveillance video showed a trespassing suspect, apparently a male, on the property just minutes before the fire broke out.

The manager also said a homeless encampment was cleared near the business Wednesday.

Signs of a homeless encampment are seen outside of Mike Thompson's RV Supercenter in Santa Fe Springs on May 9, 2024.
Signs of a homeless encampment are seen outside of Mike Thompson's RV Supercenter in Santa Fe Springs on May 9, 2024.

Botched bank heist in Southern California turns into hostage situation

Whittier police said they have not made any arrests in connection to the fire.

Mike Thompson’s RV Superstores is a family-owned and operated company with four Southern California locations and has served the region since 1972, according to its website.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.