Editorial: June 23, 2023

Last week’s tragic motorhome fire shocked those who witnessed it and those of us who were told of it. Sadly, we all have known people who have lost their motorhomes to fire, but they were on the road and not at a dog show. Being an eyewitness is quite another thing. Thankfully no one lost their life, but five dogs perished in the blaze. To those who suffered loss, we send our deepest sympathies. The shockwave through our community was palpable. It was one of those accidents that had no blame, but one of those realities of life that happens without any explanation. To speculate on the cause is only that: speculation. What we as a mobile dog-showing community who travel the length and breadth of this country need to do is take a breath, rethink and refresh our routines. We were fortunate that this fire only involved one motorhome, and that others were not involved. But that threat is always there. There is no doubt that motorhomes and large rigs have taken over the venues that serve our dog shows. Show-giving clubs charge for this option to park on the grounds, with or without electric and water hookups. It has become a sideline business for the clubs. Show venues are chosen not only for the areas that will encompass the rings and tenting, but size of the parking facilities for these large rings. Some clubs designate one of their members to be head of the parking committee, while others employ fellow dog-show exhibitors who have experience in the seemingly easy yet complicated movements of these homes made of steel. We have all attended dog shows where the parking of these rigs looked like a jigsaw puzzle. Maybe this last tragedy is the wake-up call we need to address all aspects of parking, keeping proper spacing, even outdoor cooking room between rigs. Providing a list of local emergency phone numbers, fire departments and hospitals would keep us all safe. These are serious questions that deserve serious discussions and answers. It takes planning to position these rigs if a fire or other emergency presents itself; the free and unobstructed movement of these rigs is imperative. They should have enough room between them so each and every one can maneuver easily. The entries at shows might be smaller – gone are the days of the Brush Prairie Cluster that had hundreds of motorhomes – but the dangers and responsibilities of the club are the same. It only takes one. These days hiring experienced workers who know how to park and space these rigs – as well as general services like exhibitor parking and collecting admission – is a wise investment, especially for clubs that lack enough working members.