Salutary reminder - van burned to the ground...

[Colinn]

Just returned from the BH weekend away - bit shook up like everyone else on site after one van caught fire and burned to blackened rubble in five minutes flat...

All our sympathies go to the owner, who stoically observed that no-one was injured.

Don't know the precise cause of the fire, but it started under the fridge while they were trying to light it. Very quickly, they got out of the van safely, she moved the dog and car away, he turned off the gas and had time to disconnect the cylinder and move it.

There was such an explosion at one stage that most people thought a gas cylinder had gone up, but in fact it was aerosal canisters! Frightening.!

So for me, it's a salutary warning. I've renewed my fire extinguisher, resolved always to keep car keys handy and have my gas spanner right by the cylinder. I'm going to get a pair of cutters to cut away the rubber pipe at speed if necessary.

Any other advice from you experts out there??

 

[hgv dave]

if you are going to cut the gas pipe i would make sure the valve was turned off first,good advise about the fire extinguisher but just a word about them,when you do come to use one it will only last about 30 seconds,if that of constant use

 

[Colinn]

if you are going to cut the gas pipe i would make sure the valve was turned off first,good advise about the fire extinguisher but just a word about them,when you do come to use one it will only last about 30 seconds,if that of constant use

Oh yes, I'll be sure to turn off the gas!!! Also going to experiment with the replaced extinguisher to see just what I can expect from it...

 

[LMH]

My advice is to get everyone out and away from the fire. Dial 999 for the Fire Service and let it burn.

Turn off the gas supply if it is safe to do so. Extinguishers which people tend to use in caravans hardly last any time at all. I wouldn't advise anyone to try and tackle a fire. It's astonishing how quickly they take hold.

Lisa

 

[LadyMo]

Lisa,

When I was nursing we were always told .....leave the putting out of the fire to the professionals.....you concentrate on getting everyone out.Good advice.We don't carry a fire extinguisher any more,but I do have a fire blanket for cooking emergencies.

 

[LMH]

Hi Maureen

That's good advice. Blankets are fine for small cooking fires, beware of what you are wearing though in the event it is needed (long flowing sleeves for instance).

Lisa

 

[blu]

Hi people

Just a note on fire blankets.If you have one know how to use it properly.

Hold the top edge near to the corners in your clenched fists with your palms towards you so the blanket covers your fingers then turn your arms inwards so it wraps around your arms. then place over fire.this way it protects hands arms and sleeves.

Hope you never have to use one but it pays to know how if you do.

Blu

 

[ProfJohnL]

Fire in any small-enclosed space like a caravan is a serious issue. It may seem over the top but it might actually be worth while actually holding an evacuation trial from your caravan.

With regards to gas cylinders, they must of course be treated the utmost care. Small camping gaz type cylinders can explode if exposed to excessive heat. Such explosions are sufficient to blow the side out of a caravan.

The heavy gas bottles (like Calor) must be secured upright. They rarely explode in fires; they more readily blow the brass valve off, and vent the gas vapour that then burns off. Fire crews will usually leave gas cylinders to burn off, because at least they know that the flammable vapour is not collecting anywhere else ready to cause more problems.

However if the gas bottle is not secured upright, then there is a serious hazard that if the valve assembly blows off, then the bottle may fall over and will vent high pressure liquefied gas, or explode or become a projectile. Fire crews will usually try to prevent the cylinders from becoming too hot from a distance!

Small hob fires can often be tackled quickly and extinguished with the fire blanket or extinguisher, but if it is a less accessible fire, then don't take risks with life and limb.

Unless you have real time to seal and remove a gas cylinder from the caravan, the best advice is to evacuate, call the Fire brigade and get every one well away from the area.

 

[LMH]

Hi

For clarification purposes I would like to add the following:

If there's a fire in a caravan, get out, call the Fire Service out. Stand clear.

Heavy gas bottles (butane or propane) will certainly explode and do on many occasions, it's not just the smaller bottles which will go up.

The Fire Service takes each incident on individual circumstances. The Service does not take a carte blanche approach to let cylinders burn off. The environment and circumstances will be taken into account before a decision is made in the short amount of time they have left to deal with the incident.

Our crews attended a caravan fire the other week and the whole thing was burnt to the ground in less than three minutes.

Lisa

 

[sparkes]

Lisa

Your advice is very good and correct. But it begs a question

Why would you have an extinguiser and blanket in a van if you should not fight the fire?

BTW, its a loaded question to understand when you should use this equipment

 

[LMH]

Hi Steve

I wouldn't bother with an extinguisher myself - I was going to get one but it's not worth it in my opinion. A person in a state of panic might fumble etc, even drop it, stop to read the instructions, there are multi-purpose extinguishers available but people tend to use the smaller ones for caravans. I think I have posted before on extinguishers.

Re fire blankets. When I replied to Maureen above, I meant if you have say for instance, two pork chops under the grill and the fat has caught fire which in turn has set the meat on fire. I would use a fire blanket in that case. Another example might be toast which catches fire in a toaster. You could wrap the blanket around the toaster, unplug it and put it outside in an appropriate area (providing it is safe to do so). That's the reasons I would use a blanket.

If say the tv caught fire, they tend to go up quickly, so that would be a get out......... etc. (Because you would have to unplug it and then fight the fire). Lots of plastic, electrical componments etc.

Is it worth attempting to fight a fire and putting yourself and maybe family in danger? Make yourself and your family safe (get out).

Hope I have made myself a little clearer.

Lisa

 

[Val & Frank]

Hi Steve

I wouldn't bother with an extinguisher myself - I was going to get one but it's not worth it in my opinion. A person in a state of panic might fumble etc, even drop it, stop to read the instructions, there are multi-purpose extinguishers available but people tend to use the smaller ones for caravans. I think I have posted before on extinguishers.

Re fire blankets. When I replied to Maureen above, I meant if you have say for instance, two pork chops under the grill and the fat has caught fire which in turn has set the meat on fire. I would use a fire blanket in that case. Another example might be toast which catches fire in a toaster. You could wrap the blanket around the toaster, unplug it and put it outside in an appropriate area (providing it is safe to do so). That's the reasons I would use a blanket.

If say the tv caught fire, they tend to go up quickly, so that would be a get out......... etc. (Because you would have to unplug it and then fight the fire). Lots of plastic, electrical componments etc.

Is it worth attempting to fight a fire and putting yourself and maybe family in danger? Make yourself and your family safe (get out).

Hope I have made myself a little clearer.

Lisa

Because you would have to unplug it and then fight the fire ??

What if you have a Co2, or BCF or Dry Powder, would you still risk getting close to unplug the TV !!!!!

ps For us it would be let it burn, and claim the insurance as long as the van next to us wasn't burning down

Val & Frank

 

[allen1]

It is a shame when your pride and joy goes up in flames,It happend to me last year.I suppose I was lucky that it was a german van because the gas locker at the front withstood the flames and heat for a full 25 mins before the fire service finally arrived.

the loud explosions were probably the tyres letting go as in my case.I certainly would not suggest anyone cutting the gas pipes.

I would however suggest to anyone that if they have the calor propane screw fitting to change them to a snap on type connector with a quick release mechanism,mind you with an english van it would not matter much as the front locker is like tissue paper anyway.Thank god nobody was injured.

 

[LMH]

Because you would have to unplug it and then fight the fire ??

What if you have a Co2, or BCF or Dry Powder, would you still risk getting close to unplug the TV !!!!!

---------

NO! -that is why I suggest you get out, stand clear and call my colleagues out.

Lisa

 

[sparkes]

One simple thing to remember

The van and its contents can be replaced. You and your family cannot. there is no item on this earth I would risk saving at the risk of my family

If in any way it looks like the fire is going to win, cut your loses and as Lisa suggests, Get out and Stay out.

 

[Val & Frank]

All a bit emotive for me.

I have a fire extinguiser which is for putting out a Small Fire before it becomes a Big Fire. Obviously you take a judgement on what you are capable of handling in these situations. Evacuate yes, but to stand by and watch it burn and possibly the next ten vans to yours, without using the first aid fire equipment seems mindless.

Val & Frank

 

[LMH]

If you feel competent to use an extinguisher which holds adequate product for the job, that's up to you, good luck.

However, if you are referring to my recommendations as seeming to be mindless. My postings are made with my working knowledge of fire investigations and discussions with senior officers of many years experience.

Lisa

 

[sconny]

Hi folks, as a firefighter I have delt with many caravan fires, luckily mostly old ones in allotnents, and let me tell you they burn like a good'un !!

So your van catches on fire and you have an extinguisher, what to do??

Well firstly and obviously it depends whats on fire.

Caravans do not spontaneously combust!! Something has gone wrong and nearly always down to human error.

I agree with frank in the majority of people would try and put the fire out if it were for example.. Grill, frying pan,dust bin etc etc. It takes a lot to watch your pride and joy going up in flames knowing you did diddly to prevent it when instead you ran around like a headless chicken.

However it it were similar to a domestic fire i.e. you are woken by the smoke alarm and the oven was on fire you should simply evacuate the caravan and make to a place of safety.

No two fires are the same whether you are an experienced firefighter or someone trying to prevent a bad situation becoming worse, the important thing is knowing your limits, keeping a cool head but most of all people first caravan second!!

Lots of people try and extinguish car fires themselves with portable extinguishers, and quite often sucsessfully lots of people put out chip pan fires themselves its not impossible, but if you do not want to risk it call 999.

One thing I must say though, a lot of caravan parks/sites are remote so don't always expect a fire engine in minutes, but do what you can to limit damage such as 1 move your car 2 alert your neighbours 3 Only disconnect the gas if safe to do so, if not don't even think about it.

A lot of fire safety is common sense................use it!!

But don't have nightmares

John

 

[Val & Frank]

Hi,

Something I learned a long time ago which I believe has held good for me.

"What is the definition of an Expert" ??????

"Someone who knows when it's time to call an Expert"

Thanks John

 

[LMH]

How wonderful.

Lisa

 

[sconny]

Hi Lisa I know you work for the fire service and have insider knowledge on fire safety and the likes.

I tried to answer the the question/thread not just from a firefighters point of view but also as a caravaner, it's human nature to want to protect and look after ones property, so why not give a little helping advice............ well that's my opinion anyway.

Regards John

 

[Val & Frank]

Glad you thought it wonderful Lisa. Maybe you will remember it!!!!!!. I have no idea what you do for a living what I do know is what I do for my living.

Frank

 

[blu]

Firefighting!

I posted above about the fire blankets.i Am not a firefighter i just do a firefighting course every few years to work offshore but the fire service i think are the people yo call when the s**t has really hit the fan and you dont know who else to call.

They are heroes every day and good luck to all of them.

PS even with todays hoodies throwing bricks at them.

 

[Val & Frank]

I wouldn't bother with an extinguisher myself - I was going to get one but it's not worth it in my opinion.

This is why I had a concern with this thread. People offering advice, that can only be described as controversial ????

Val & Frank

 

[LMH]

Thanks for the posts folks.

At the end of the day, I suppose it's up to each individual and perhaps bystanders on which methods of action they decide to take in the event of an incident.

My last posting on this now.

Lisa