Motorhome fire today

[meanders]

Out of interest are there any firemen/ fire ladies working or retired on this forum to give there veiw on this sort of thing.

JockandRita

 

[PaddyM]

If you are able to put your irrational fear aside, you can digest the evidence presented in the CamPRA Fire Safety Report

Ian

It’s not irrational, if you want to pitch three metres away you crack on lad , I’ll stick with my six .

 

[bigtwin]

It’s not irrational, if you want to pitch three metres away you crack on lad , I’ll stick with my six .

If your decision making on spacing is based on distance (and the attendant risk of fire) then, I’m afraid, it is irrational as it is not based on evidence.

As Lenny HB alludes to below, you appear happy to accept much greater risks to your wellbeing.

You take a far higher risk every time you drive your camper or car or cross the road so maybe stop doing all of them.

Ian

 

[Lenny HB]

It’s not irrational, if you want to pitch three metres away you crack on lad , I’ll stick with my six .

I take it you never travel to mainland Europe then?
The only way to do that in mainland Europe would be to find your own wild spots that are not on any apps.

 

[Spriddler]

Out of interest are there any firemen/ fire ladies working or retired on this forum to give there veiw on this sort of thing.

We have our own fire hero in Chris

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[bigtwin]

We have our own fire hero in Chris

Yes, very undervalued.

Ian

 

[runrig]

I was confused by the c & c club 6m ruling on a site last September. Parked with a friend & was told we could put a wind brake up, but had to take it down at night as it was in the 6m fire brake. On the other side of us was a tent where he was allowed to park his car within a few feet of our van. The warden said this was allowed as it could be wheeled out of the way. The site was 2 rows of vans with a small roadway down the middle, so if this was on fire where would anyone brave enough safely wheel it to, if they had access to the keys & it didn't happen in the middle of the night.
This is their policy wording-4.4 - You may park your vehicle between units, provided that 3m clear space is left within the 6m gap. Vehicles on site should be parked at right angles to a slope where possible.
Seems very contradictory re the 6m fire brake as cars catch fire are full of fuel, not to mention if it was a Tesla

 

[PaddyM]

I take it you never travel to mainland Europe then?
The only way to do that in mainland Europe would be to find your own wild spots that are not on any apps.

I’m a frequent visitor to mainland Europe in my van , I have used an aire once ( never again) , I much prefer beautiful, safe and well resourced campsites. You pays your money and you takes your chances .

 

[Lenny HB]

I’m a frequent visitor to mainland Europe in my van , I have used an aire once ( never again) , I much prefer beautiful, safe and well resourced campsites. You pays your money and you takes your chances .

But campsites have no 6 m rule been on sites in Spain & Italy in our tugging days where if you opened a window fully it would hit the van on the next pitch.

 

[two]

I like the 6m rule because it gives me more space.
Nothing to do with the possibility of a fire.

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[bigtwin]

I like the 6m rule because it gives me more space.
Nothing to do with the possibility of a fire.

Space is always preferable.

Ian

 

[PaddyM]

But campsites have no 6 m rule been on sites in Spain & Italy in our tugging days where if you opened a window fully it would hit the van on the next pitch.

Not on the sites I frequent

 

[VXman]

I’m a frequent visitor to mainland Europe in my van , I have used an aire once ( never again) , I much prefer beautiful, safe and well resourced campsites. You pays your money and you takes your chances .

There are beautiful, safe and well resourced Aires. There are also beautiful, safe non resourced Aires and free parking spots ('wild camps') for those of us who have all our own resources.

 

[JockandRita]

Out of interest are there any firemen/ fire ladies working or retired on this forum to give there veiw on this sort of thing.

JockandRita

Thanks Robin, however 2 x retired Fire Officers have already given their views, which I totally agree with myself.

Campsites are licensed by Local Authorities, and are required to maintain the correct spacing, which if IRC, is a minimum of 6 x metres between outfits, (side to side), and a minimum of 3 x metres at any one point, eg, an excess road between units. That 6 x metre gap, gives folks time to evacuate their units safely should there be a fire situation..........even if units cannot be moved away in time to prevent fire spread through radiation.
I think I am correct in saying that Jim has adopted the same ruling for official FUN Rallies. I'm all for it myself where at all possible.

At Bondu fires in Cyprus, and stubble fires here in the UK, I have seen huge flames leaping across roads, especially where there is a decent wind behind them.
Fire spread is usually caused either by convection, radiation, or direct contact with a source of ignition.............or by a combination of all three.

Stay safe.

Jock.

 

[PaddyM]

Thanks Robin, however 2 x retired Fire Officers have already given their views, which I totally agree with myself.

Campsites are licensed by Local Authorities, and are required to maintain the correct spacing, which if IRC, is a minimum of 6 x metres between outfits, (side to side), and a minimum of 3 x metres at any one point, eg, an excess road between units. That 6 x metre gap, gives folks time to evacuate their units safely should there be a fire situation..........even if units cannot be moved away in time to prevent fire spread through radiation.
I think I am correct in saying that Jim has adopted the same ruling for official FUN Rallies. I'm all for it myself where at all possible.

At Bondu fires in Cyprus, and stubble fires here in the UK, I have seen huge flames leaping across roads, especially where there is a decent wind behind them.
Fire spread is usually caused either by convection, radiation, or direct contact with a source of ignition.............or by a combination of all three.

Stay safe.

Jock.

Cheers Jock , another experts view

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[bigtwin]

JockandRita is there anything in the CamPRA report in the link below that you would question?

If you are able to put your irrational fear aside, you can digest the evidence presented in the CamPRA Fire Safety Report

Ian

Ian

 

[The Wino]

How many motorhomes crash on the roads every year compared to the number that catch fire on site?. I think from memory the most frequent motorhome fires I've seen on here have been on petrol stations with no vehicle spacing.

 

[JockandRita]

JockandRita is there anything in the CamPRA report in the link below that you would question?



Ian

To be fair Ian, I've not had a chance to look at the document, but with jumar Martin having browsed it here..................

Motorhome fire today

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

................and with him being far more experienced with Fire Safety Regs than I ever was, I'd go along with his opinion.

Whilst I'd rather the recommendations were 6 x metres, for the same reasons maison put forward, it just wouldn't be viable in built up areas.

I too have been critical in the past of the spacing on Aires, Stellplatz, and Sostas across Europe, but it's a case of "When in Rome".

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Swifter]

I am just glad nobody was hurt and the damage was limited to one van .

 

[bobnick]

Forget regulations, reports, recommendations, site rules and the rest we just don't want to be parked so close to the neighbour to hear them snore and a whole host of other reasons.

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[jumar]

Just to add to what's already been written..one of the main reason why spacing is of the greatest importance is ...When Fires breakout whilst people are sleeping in vans...Generally speaking the quicker a fire can be detected and action taken the better..this does not happen at night, and by the time the source of ignition has spread to other combustible materials, it's already becoming a very serious situation to adjoining vans too.
To add to the seriousness of caravan/motorhome fires at night are human behaviour issues, which can be one of the main causes of such fires...a late night feast after consumption of Alcohol..., sleeping off the very same large Alcohol consumption....even wearing ear plugs to guarantee a good night's sleep could prevent an occupant from being aware of a nearby dangerous situation.
Therefore detection is critical followed by swift action...a 6 metre gap between units containing sleeping occupants remains a life saver..and afterall this is the most important issue here.

 

[PaulC70]

Here's a question, how many of you carry a fire extinguisher?

 

[Peavy]

I carry a fire blanket. But I've just decided I'm going to buy one

 

[jumar]

Here's a question, how many of you carry a fire extinguisher?

Me...3 actually....your next question should be...how many know how to use one ..and the suitability of what you have..

 

[Peavy]

Me...3 actually....your next question should be...how many know how to use one ..and the suitability of what you have..

That would be more important than even carry one. An ABC (dry powder) one would be good?
It allways concerns me the very high temperatures my van reaches in the summer, and the fire extinguisher itself being a pressurized item...

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[jumar]

Dry powder still remains a good option...there are new types that receive good reviews....
I have a large Dry Powder in the MH Garage and a AFFF in the kitchen area..
No doubt if this thread continues, there will be someone who is going to say... Don't use Dry powder is difficult to clean up after use...
But not as difficult as a pile of ashes or a burnt out van....most fires start small and develop into bigger ones..
As for storing in your van during our summer months....never been asked that before...,

 

[Two on Tour]

Here's a question, how many of you carry a fire extinguisher?

We have four Fire Safety Sticks on our van, one in the kitchen area, one in a cupboard in the hab area and one in each door pocket of the cab doors, plus we have a fire blanket as well.

 

[Pausim]

My water mist fire extinguisher is by the bed. It is there to help us escape if we need to, getting out is what really matters.

 

[SpeedyDux]

Looks like a CAMC site. THe 6 metre rule works.

The white peg was unharmed.

 

[JockandRita]

Me...3 actually.

Ditto.

your next question should be...how many know how to use one ..and the suitability of what you have..

And ditto again.

If in doubt, GET OUT, and get the Fire Service out................................if you are lucky enough to have a station and crew within proximity these days.

With the annual cutbacks and reductions in Fire Stations, Appliances, and crewing levels/availability, response times have reached a shockingly and disgraceful "all time high". Absolutely everyone should be concerned by that trend, and thinking even more of their personal safety and of those around them, in the event of a fire situation.........at home or in the MH.

If you have concerns, contact your local Community Fire Safety Team, who are best placed to advise accordingly.

Stay safe,

Jock.

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