RV Fire Safety Awareness

By Nancy LoveAn unpaid, non-professional

with absolutely no qualifications!

FACT: They go up amazingly fast and burn incredibly HOT!

Danger!!More dangerous than living in houses –

building codesSmaller – with fewer windows and exitsFast Burning – lots of wood and particle boardWorst of all, toxic materials – glues, plastics

and adhesives

PurposeFire Safety

Be aware of the danger

Prepare

Share the knowledge

Why I wanted to do thisOur reaction to the storyWhat I learned

researching for this

Three killed in northwest Arizona motor home fireKINGMAN, Ariz. - Three Lake Havasu City residents were killed in a fiery motor home accident about eight miles north of the northwestern Arizona city Monday.The Department of Public Safety said the 2006 motor home towing a Jeep blew a right front tire about 12:05 p.m. on Arizona Route 95."The fire started on the right front wheel, which is directly adjacent to the main doorway that you come in and out," Desert Hills Fire Chief Matt Espinoza said. "In that case the primary entrance and exit was blocked by fire which basically forced the occupants to the rear of the RV."Espinoza said the bodies of the occupants were all located in the rear of the motor home.The victims were identified as John P. Thomas and Susan L. Thomas, both 63, and Joyce Lowry, 73.

Many ways a fire can start in an RVA large percentage of RV fires are transmission-related on

motorhomes. Leaking automatic transmission fluid can ignite and quickly spread if it contacts any portion of the exhaust system. 

Electrical systemsPropane & FuelsOverheating - hot engines with leak in radiator or heater hoseBlowoutsBlocked flue’s and ventsUnmaintained batteries can explodeA hot exhaust pipe can ignite dry grass when parking12-volt shortsCombustibles near open flamesRags soiled with auto wax, cleaners that contain petroleum or oil-

based cleaning materials can spontaneously combustThe rig next door catches on fire and burns others around itCooking mistakesAnd the list goes on

So many……………….So many types of RV’s, each

with different fire prevention checklists

Of course, everyone should be checking everything that they are supposed to ………………….

But accidents are just that – accidents. You can’t possibly anticipate or prevent every possible thing that can happen.

My point

This discussion is not intended to cover every way that fires can be prevented

It’s intended to make us all aware of the dangers and how awareness and planning can save lives

Smoke Detectors (best defense) Most people killed by fires are actually overcome in their sleep from gas, lack of oxygen, hot air, and smoke, or wake up too late or confused to escape. 

TestShare the knowledge

Other Detectors worth mention

CO Detector

Propane Detector

SoundsKnow which detector makes which sound

Know what to do for each type of emergency

Warning:If you can see flames, you

could have as little as

20 seconds to get out.

Fire ExtinguishersMost RV’s come equippedHow many? Where?What type?

Class-A Extinguishers Class-B Extinguishers Class-C Extinguishers Class-D extinguishers Class-K extinguishers

Testing and MaintainingDo your research.

Using Fire ExtinguishersThe first rule of RV firefighting is to save lives first and

property second. Get yourself and your family to safety before attempting

to extinguish a fire. Only if you can do so without endangering yourself or

others should you use firefighting aids on hand. Fire Extinguishers have limits!

Don’t waste precious evacuation minutes. Never stay behind or re-enter a burning RV to retrieve

anything. Just GET OUT.Remember, objects can be replaced, people can’t

Motor homesMore danger when underway

because you are IN the RV.Many fires are started in the

engine areaAdditional fuelsBlown tires are a major

contributor to firesMake sure your escape plan

includes emergencies while underway as well as while parked.

“A right front tire blowout at less than 65 mph on I-95 in South Carolina resulting in our 2000 Newmar Mountain Aire coach burning to the ground, on Friday, April 22, 2005.”

“I was traveling Northbound on I-95, in the right lane and the coach was climbing an overpass and at about 300 feet from the top, the right front tire blew out.”

“ At this point I already noticed flames in the right rear view mirror. “

“By the time I stopped, the flames were over the top of the exit door, and it was now impossible to exit via the front door. “

“I couldn't believe the volume of fire which had developed within less that 1 minute from the time of the blowout. Without any further expectations of possibly being able to extinguish the fire, my immediate interest shifted to how we were going to get out of the coach.

“Since the traffic was still screaming by us without stopping, the bedroom emergency exit on the driver's side was out of the question, so the bedroom non-emergency window on the passenger side was the only one left.”

Reality CheckDo you know where your emergency exit is?Have you checked it lately to make sure it

still opens easily?Do you know how to open it?Does it need to be propped open? Is there a

prop handy?If your RV is a Motor Home – is it on the

drivers side?Can all inhabitants open the door easily?

Make a PlanIn the event of a fire do you have a plan to exit the

RV?Go out feet first or head first?Is an emergency ladder needed?Meeting placeWhere is the cell phone kept?How to call 911 if no cell service?Be aware of your location to direct firefighters. Special needsPetsPassengers / guests – Can they open the door?If you have time, what do you take? (Joe and Sue)

Mac the Fire Guy Mac McCoy is a 30+year fire-fighting veteran whose work history

includes being a paramedic, deputy sheriff and, most recently, the Fire Service Training Coordinator for the State of Oregon. Mac has a bachelor's degree in Fire Science and a master's degree in Fire Administration. He is now retired and teaches RV Fire Safety Seminars across the country.

“Hopefully, you’ll never have to put your fire plan into action. However, if you do, remember to keep calm and to get out of your coach like you practiced during fire drills. Stay focused on your prime objective—getting yourself and your passengers out of the RV safely.”

www.macthefireguy.com

InsuranceMake sure you have it!Compare policies - some companies specialize in RV’s

Take pictures

In SummaryYour best defense is to have tested and functioning smoke detectors

Make an Escape PlanShare the Plan with your occupantsRemind fellow RV’ersThank you & Happy Trails