Clifford and Arlene Beck escaped from their recreational vehicle (RV) moments before it was consumed in flames Sunday at Riverside RV Park in Canby, Oregon. RV Park employee Peter Fooks was the hero: he rescued the couple from the burning RV when a power scooter used by the physically handicapped blocked their exit. Fooks reached into the heat and thick black smoke to pull the scooter from the RV's main exit. The Becks then were able to escape on their own.
Witnesses said that the flames literally followed them out as they ducked under the smoke and exited. The couple lived full time in their RV and left Vancouver, Washington, on Sunday for Riverside RV Park, which is situated on the Molalla River. The RV was a total loss.
"We feel pretty fortunate," said Clifford Beck. "Everything we own was in that RV, and most of it is destroyed." Mrs. Beck was most upset about the loss of her Bible and her family genealogy, which she said she had invested years into researching.
Firefighters believe they may have salvaged the genealogy documents. "They were a bit smoky, and had some burned edges, but for the most part I think that was one item was can say we saved," offered Canby Fire Captain Val Codino.
You can read more and see a picture of the fire-ravaged RV at KGW's web site at http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_062506_news_rv_fire.c0f2d5ff.html
