With the number of Caravan Fires that you read about.
I wonder how many people have thought about being asleep in a caravan, then waking up to find that the caravan is on fire,
A good chance of the fire starting, would be in the kitchen area which in a lot of vans is situated near the door.
What would your first reactions be ? try to race through the flames ? grab a fire extinguisher ? ( a lot of these are located just inside the door way ) and maybe out of reach because of the fire,
or would you try and get out a window ?
I guess my answer would have to be, get out the quickest and safest way possible, If I was going to try for the door, I would first grab a fire blanket which we have at the rear of our van, then use that as protection while exiting the van,
Some people may opp to use a window, In our case this would be rather hard as the good woman is crippled with Arthritis and would find it impossible to climb through a window,
When you think about it, there is not many options to take in this situation, lets hope we or anyone else we know, will never have to deal with this situation, but it is a possibility.
Where are your Fire Extinguishers placed & how many are in your Caravan, ?
Can they be reached easily and quickly?
Do other persons in your Caravan know how to use an Extinguisher?
Do you have a Fire Blanket ?
Do you have a good Fire Alarm / Smoke detector placed in the right position in your Caravan ?
Maybe now is the time to think of these things, before they have to be used ???
K.J.
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From Coast to Coast, We'll see it all.......One Day
You have made me feel guilty as charged, KJ. I am usually very safety aware but admit I only have one fire extinguisher in the van and ashamed to say no fire blanket.
That is going to change when next at a place I can get better organised. I must get one for the twins tee pee as well.
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Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
The vast majority of caravan fires are in permanent vans more than likely caused by someone having too much to drink and then falling asleep while smoking in bed.
Your best protection is smoke alarms preferably photo electric or a combination of both types photo and ionization, fire blankets are only small and used smother a fire on the stove a woolen blanket would be your best bet, but where do you store it.
If a fire starts in you van your absolute main aim should be to get out of the van as soon as possible, staying to fight the fire with a fire extinguisher may cause you to be overcome by smoke, so its really a case of get down low and go go go.
Cheers
David
The vast majority of caravan fires are in permanent vans more than likely caused by someone having too much to drink and then falling asleep while smoking in bed.
Your best protection is smoke alarms preferably photo electric or a combination of both types photo and ionization, fire blankets are only small and used smother a fire on the stove a woolen blanket would be your best bet, but where do you store it.
If a fire starts in you van your absolute main aim should be to get out of the van as soon as possible, staying to fight the fire with a fire extinguisher may cause you to be overcome by smoke, so its really a case of get down low and go go go. Cheers David
We have 3 extinguishers in the van(2 near the door & one near the bed) & no blanket.
It's out the window for us. The one at the foot of the bed is quite low & the screens come out easily.
Then gas off at the bottle & tug out of the way if I can. Call 000 & alert neighbours if necessary, then perhaps look at fire fighting.
We have 2 extinguishers and a fire blanket just over the stove. Wife and I practice evacuation every 6 months. Out of bed wrap the quilt around us and out the door. Then (if we can) grab the extinguisher. Pull the electricity and gas off..
Im a safety NUT case...
-- Edited by Phil C on Thursday 10th of November 2016 11:58:25 AM
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Ex RAAF, now retired. EX Electrician/Teacher.
Homebase is Murray Bridge Tourist Park (in a cabin). New Horse.. 2020 Ford Everest Titanium, Jayco swan for touring.
The vast majority of caravan fires are in permanent vans more than likely caused by someone having too much to drink and then falling asleep while smoking in bed.
Your best protection is smoke alarms preferably photo electric or a combination of both types photo and ionization, fire blankets are only small and used smother a fire on the stove a woolen blanket would be your best bet, but where do you store it.
If a fire starts in you van your absolute main aim should be to get out of the van as soon as possible, staying to fight the fire with a fire extinguisher may cause you to be overcome by smoke, so its really a case of get down low and go go go. Cheers David
We have 3 extinguishers in the van(2 near the door & one near the bed) & no blanket.
It's out the window for us. The one at the foot of the bed is quite low & the screens come out easily.
Then gas off at the bottle & tug out of the way if I can. Call 000 & alert neighbours if necessary, then perhaps look at fire fighting.
ps. I have another extinguisher in the tug.
Is that a good plan?
Yes, the best plan by far is to get out of danger as quickly as possible,
just a bit of information for Roving-Dutchy, Fire Blankets can be purchased in many different sizes,
The one I have in our van is big enough to shelter two people,
This is folded up into a small pouch, which is attached to the wall and can be pulled from the pouch in seconds by yanking on two release tabs which protrude from the base,
I doubt a woolen blanket could be stored anywhere near as neatly, and who has a woolen blanket anywhere near you, when the Summer temp is around ???
Remember also that a 1kg Extinguisher being used from start to finish,
Only lasts around 20 seconds max, for this reason, I have chosen the larger 2kg one, placing it at the rear of our van between the beds, and right beside the Fire Blanket......
Just a quick note on dry powder type extinguishers in vehicles. With long periods of road vibrations, the powder may become compacted, it is prudent to remove th extinguisher from its bracket once in a while and give it a smart whack whilst holding it upside down, a good shake and put it back in its bracket...........Rick...fire fighter semi retired.
Small fire blankets are only about $15 at the post office. Good for smothering fires in the kitchen and last forever. A working fire alarm is perhaps the most important.
