A 72-year-old Arkansas man is facing multiple charges after police say he tried to remove snakes from his RV by pouring alcohol on them and lighting them on fire.
Snakes on a Plane…but in an RV
According to KTLO, the fire happened on May 8 at Green Acres RV Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Investigators say Charles Howard Gillihan told officers there were snakes inside his camper. Gillihan allegedly poured alcohol on the snakes and used a lighter to burn them. Police say the fire then spread near a couch inside the RV and quickly got out of control.
Emergency crews responded, but by the time they arrived, the damage was done. The fire destroyed Gillihan’s RV and a neighboring camper. Another camper, a van, and a motorcycle were also damaged.
Neighboring Couple Escapes Unharmed
A couple sleeping in the neighboring camper told police they were woken up by the RV park owner banging on their door as the fire spread. They were able to escape safely with their dog.
Police also noted that when the Mountain View police chief spoke with Gillihan, officers reportedly smelled alcohol on his breath. Gillihan is facing felony reckless burning, felony first-degree criminal mischief, and misdemeanor public intoxication. He’s reportedly being held on a $35,000 bond.
RV Safety vs. Wildlife
RVers run into wildlife problems all the time, especially in wooded areas, long-term campsites, or rigs that have been sitting for a while. Snakes, mice, raccoons, and insects can all create issues. But this is about as extreme an example as you’ll find of what not to do.
RVs can burn very quickly. Between fiberglass, foam insulation, plastics, fabrics, propane systems, and the tight spacing between rigs in many campgrounds, a small fire can become a much larger emergency in seconds.
The incident is a reminder to keep fire extinguishers accessible, know your emergency exits, and pay attention to how close you are parked to other RVs. In a campground, a fire next door can become your problem very quickly.
You can see a video of the fire posted by a neighboring camper on Facebook here.
