At best, a fire in your RV can delay or ruin a vacation. At worst, it can
mean injury, financial loss, and even death. Unfortunately, RV fires are one of
the largest causes of motor coach loss in America today. The following tips can
help you recognize the most common fire hazards and protect you from damage and injury.
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| Don't Let This Happen to You. |
A pinhole-size leak in a radiator or heater
hose can spray antifreeze on hot engine parts. Antifreeze contains ethylene
glycol concentrate and water. When the water boils off, the remaining ethylene
glycol can self-ignite at 782 degrees F. During your monthly fire inspection,
check all hoses for firmness, clamp tightness, and signs of leaking. Rubber fuel lines are commonly
used to connect metal lines to the electronic fuel injection system, or to the
carburetor in older coaches. Check all the lines and connections between the
fuel tank and the engine on a monthly basis. If there is any sign of a leak,
have the lines replaced and the entire system inspected by a qualified mechanic
as soon as possible.
A hard-working
engine manifold can get as hot as 900 degrees F. The heavy insulation in the
compartment reflects the heat back to the top of the engine, and a fire can
easily break out. Inspect your radiator and have any problems repaired by a
qualified person as soon as possible.
Grease, oil, and road dust build
up on the engine and transmission, making them run hotter. The grime itself
usually does not burn, but if combined with a fuel leak or short-circuited wire,
a fire could start. Keep your coach's underpinnings clean, and it will run
cooler, more economically, and longer.
A dragging brake
can create enough friction to ignite a tire or brake fluid. Some of the worst
fires are those caused when one tire of a dual or tandem pair goes flat,
scuffs, and ignites long before the driver feels any change in handling. At
each stop, give tires at least an eyeball check. When tires are cool, tap your
duals with a club and listen for a difference in sound from one tire to the
next. You can often tell if one is going soft.
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION can occur in damp charcoal. Buy charcoal fresh, keep it dry, and
store it in a covered metal container. Rags soiled with auto wax or cleaners
that contain petroleum products or other oil-based cleaning materials can also
spontaneously combust if disposed of in a combustible container. Put dirty cleaning
rags in a metal container with a lid.
A hot exhaust pipe or catalytic
converter can ignite dry grass.
Driving with propane on can add
to the danger if you are involved in an accident or have a fire. Most
refrigerators will keep food cold or frozen for eight hours without running
while you travel. Shut the propane off at the tank.
If you store your coach, be sure
to check the flue before starting your refrigerator on propane. Birds and
inspects can build nests and clog the flue, causing a fire or excess carbon
monoxide to enter your coach.
Batteries produce explosive
gases. Keep flame, cigarettes, and sparks away. Be sure your battery
compartment is properly vented. Keep vent caps tight and level. Check your
battery monthly. Replace swollen batteries immediately. Use extreme care when
handling batteries—they can explode.
Have any wiring in your coach
done by a capable electrician, and use common sense in using any electrical
aid. Check all 12-volt connections before and after every trip. Most coach
fires are caused by a 12-volt short.
Gasoline and
propane can pose an immediate, explosive danger. Though diesel fuel is less
volatile, it dissipates more slowly, so it remains a danger longer. Deal at
once with any leaks or spills, and use all fuels in adequately vented areas.
Even if the flame on your galley
stove goes out, gas continues to flow and could result in an explosion. A stove
should never be left unattended or used to heat your coach. Open propane flames
release high levels of carbon monoxide.
In a compact galley, all
combustibles—from paper towels to curtains—are apt to be closer to the stove,
so use even more caution in your coach than you do at home. A box of baking
soda—the ingredient in powder extinguishers—can be used in lieu of a fire
extinguisher for minor galley flare-ups.
Develop a plan of action before a fire
occurs.
Make sure all travelers knows what the smoke alarm
sounds like and what to do when they hear it. Test your smoke detector
regularly.
Have at least two escape
routes—one in the front and one in the rear of the coach. As soon as they're
old enough, teach children to open hatches and emergency exits.
Review with everyone the "Stop, Drop, and
Roll" rule so they know what to do when clothing is on fire.
Make sure
visitors can open the front door. Not all manufacturers use the same lock and
latch assembly.
Choose a
rallying point where everyone will meet immediately after escaping, so everyone
can be accounted for.
Show
travelers how to unhook electricity (screw-on cords can be tricky) and how to
close propane valves, in case either of these measures is called for.
Practice
unhooking your tow vehicle as quickly as possible to avoid spreading the fire
to other vehicles.
Re-emphasize to everyone aboard that objects can be replaced, people can't.
Never stay behind or re-enter a burning coach to retrieve anything.
There are plenty of fire and life
safety tools that can save lives, but for them to be effective, they must be in
working condition and you must know how to use them properly.
You should have three fire
extinguishers for your coach—one in the galley, one in the bedroom, and one
outside of the coach in an unlocked compartment or in your tow vehicle. Make
sure family members know how to use the extinguishers and understand which
extinguishers are effective on various fires.
During your monthly inspection,
check the fire extinguisher gauge to determine if there is pressure in the
extinguisher. If the gauge indicates empty or needs charging, replace or
recharge the extinguisher immediately. To test non-gauged extinguishers, push
the plunger indicator (usually green or black) down. If it does not come back
up, the extinguisher has no pressure to expel its contents. If you need help
testing your fire extinguishers, check with your local fire department.
Do not pull the pin and expel the
contents to test your powder extinguisher. If you use a portion of the powder
extinguisher, have it refilled or replaced immediately. When you have a fire
extinguisher refilled, ask to shoot off the charge first (most refill stations
have a special place where this can be done safely). This lets you see how far
it shoots and how long a charge lasts.
Invert and shake your dry-powder
or dry-chemical extinguisher monthly to loosen the powder. The jarring of the
coach does not loosen the powder; in fact, it packs the powder, which may make
your extinguisher ineffective.
Deadly, invisible, odorless CO
usually results from exhaust leaks or misuse of heating devices. Be sure to put
your CO detector in the bedroom. The proper location is on the ceiling or on an
inside wall at least eight inches from the ceiling and at least four feet from
the floor.
Liquid petroleum gas, like
gasoline fumes, tends to pool in low spots in the coach until a spark sets it
off. Newer motorhomes are equipped with an automatic shut-off for when its
sensor detects an LPG leak. If you have a leak, be sure to shut the propane off
at the tank.
The 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.
Get help. Adults and older children should
know how to dial 911 or 0, and how to get emergency help on any CB, VHF, or ham
radio available.
It's
crucial to know your location so firefighters can find you.
If you have
a quick-disconnect fitting on your water hookup, these hoses can be unhooked
instantly to fight a fire. If a nearby coach is burning and you cannot move
your coach but can safely stay close enough to keep it hosed down, you may be
able to save it.
2006
RVers Friend
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2006
Mapquest RV & Campsites
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directory is the first publication of its kind. Complete with state and
Canadian province road maps, color photos and 3700 campground listings.
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