A frightening scenario unfolded Monday afternoon when an RV became fully engulfed in flames next to the gas pumps at the Herndon Road Chevron station. Firefighters responded and quickly extinguished the flames but the RV was totally destroyed while some gas pumps and canopy over the gas island were badly charred.

Two occupants of the RV were treated and transported to a local emergency room after they tried unsuccessfully to put out the fire themselves.

The driver of the RV pulled up to the pumps at approximately 4:30 p.m. to gas up when for some unknown reason a fire erupted. An employee saw the fire and activated the emergency shutoff valve to the pumps to prevent an explosion.

When the first engine arrived on scene and saw how intense the fire was additional engines were called with the Quint ladder truck.

The store will remain open but the gas pumps will be closed until repairs can be made.

Second fire

Early Tuesday morning Modesto Fire Department firefighters aboard three engines were dispatched at 2:42 a.m. to battle a car fire in the 900 block of Herndon Road which threatened a residence. The crew was able to extinguish the fire and spare the home from damage.

The cause of both Ceres fires is under investigation.