Fire Escape Windows / Drills

[jestal]

In most every commercial airplane the cockpit includes a fire axe to break windows and clear an opening for the pilots to escape since they are somewhat isolated from the conventional escape routes behind them. It is there for a reason. Harbor freight sells a nice small/medium sized fire axe. We have one is in the drawer under the couch secured by movable metal brackets. The other is in the rear closet secured the same way.

If I am ever confronted with escaping for any reason window latches and glass and the skylight in the shower are all expendable. All the windows become fire exits with a fire axe. A stubborn door will submit to an axe. So will the windshield.

No one has mentioned the more likely situation: a rollover with or without a fire. With a blown front tire or other traffic accident leaving the coach on it's side or top the escape windows are 6 feet in the air. The door is likely of no use also. The windshield will last 3 seconds with a fire axe and we are out. If the coach is on it's side I bet I can chop thru the roof pretty fast if other exits are blocked.

My wife is a career flight attendant that has gone thru countless professional escape training exercises with several airlines and several corporate jet manufacturers. The fire axe is essential in many situations.

Personally I would rather have the fire axe in my hand than a fire extinguisher. In a real emergency I/we are going to escape and let the fire take care of itself.

This is sort of an "out of the box approach" but one I am most confident in after a lot of discussion and trial and error considering existing escape routes. I am honestly not even interested in a fire extinguisher if things are that bad.

The other concern I have is with an engine fire underway. We nearly experienced this recently when the exhaust bellows across the top of the engine failed and dumped raw exhaust into the engine compartment immediately below the hatch. There was extensive thermal damage and some charred wood indicating a fire existed briefly.

Because of this I quit using the locking pins on the tow bar and went back to the pins with clips so I can unhook the toad rapidly. By the time I fumbled with keys for the pins it will be too late. I will use the locking pins if overnighting in a dubious location but put the clip pins back in before getting underway. Something else to think about is the toad going up in flames if the engine compartment catches fire.

[brobox]

Good post Al. I never thought of the Harbor Freight ax, thanks. Totally agree on the toad locking pins, I have never used them for that reason. If stopping somewhere, I always do a walk around checking tires and tow pins anyhow, so I have never had a need for locking pins.

[hdgoldie]

FWIW - We had the roll over situation. The passenger side was in the ground, the drivers side was in the air, badly damaged. The windshield was intact but Rick “removed” it with one kick near the top edge. It went forward and crumbled into small pieces. Safety glass so no shards went flying. Easy step out. Both generator and engine were running after we stopped. We turned both off. There was never any hint of a fire. Surprisingly, we both stayed calm and focused throughout. Hope that’s the only emergency exit we ever need to make.

[Dieselgem]

Your axe idea is a very good idea. An axe is a great tool to carry, but without an extingusher in a fire it is useless. I carry a 22oz straight claw hammer as well as an inexpensive glass breaker, and a knife to cut a seat belt. Thinking even if I do not need them they could be useful to aid someone else. They can also be purchased at Harbor Frieght. The straight claw on a hammer can be used as a pry bar . The 220z weight is heavy enough to do the job on most anything. I like the small glass breaker, it works well and is great to get a child or pet stuck in a car free. We all think that if and when that time should come, our actions will keep us safe. In a fire emergency you need to exit as fast as possible. An extinguisher could aid you, not only in your RV but your home as well. For times of accidents all of these other items will assist you . Many of us have passed 30 and are no longer immortal. Take a look around the camground, you will see many folks not in optimum condition to get out through a six foot high window. Even if they had six minutes to open it. So whether your choice is an axe or any other type of tool, the idea is to flee quickly and safely. Your immediate actions once you know there is a fire could determine your survival. Get out and get out quick. I have lived this years ago in a two story home. Fire travels quickly and smoke will hamper your breathing and sight. And your path of exit could be changed quickly.

[LWBAZ]

Originally Posted by Dieselgem

Your axe idea is a very good idea. An axe is a great tool to carry, but without an extingusher in a fire it is useless. I carry a 22oz straight claw hammer as well as an inexpensive glass breaker, and a knife to cut a seat belt. Thinking even if I do not need them they could be useful to aid someone else. They can also be purchased at Harbor Frieght. The straight claw on a hammer can be used as a pry bar . The 220z weight is heavy enough to do the job on most anything. I like the small glass breaker, it works well and is great to get a child or pet stuck in a car free. We all think that if and when that time should come, our actions will keep us safe. In a fire emergency you need to exit as fast as possible. An extinguisher could aid you, not only in your RV but your home as well. For times of accidents all of these other items will assist you . Many of us have passed 30 and are no longer immortal. Take a look around the camground, you will see many folks not in optimum condition to get out through a six foot high window. Even if they had six minutes to open it. So whether your choice is an axe or any other type of tool, the idea is to flee quickly and safely. Your immediate actions once you know there is a fire could determine your survival. Get out and get out quick. I have lived this years ago in a two story home. Fire travels quickly and smoke will hamper your breathing and sight. And your path of exit could be changed quickly.

Thanks for the reminder. Now let me go back to pretending that isn't the case!

[Craig36]

The frequently forgotten issue is whether or not the coach is on its wheels or is flipped over on one side from an accident.

If on its wheels you can easily get to an escape window. If it is on one side you have to figure out how to reach the upside escape window when standing on the opposite side....8 feet over your head.

In that scenario, we decided it would be best to knock out the windshield with a dining chair. That would also have the advantage of putting you on ground level, and would be quick.

[Nowabeachbum]

So we eat too much, drink too much, don’t get enough exercise and preparing to exit an Entegra during a fire is the topic! Has anyone had a fire while sleeping in their Entegra? Pretty sure I’ve got bigger things to worry about, like my next colonoscopy! If I die in a fire in my Entegra, feel free to say I told you so!

[garysfb]

Originally Posted by Nowabeachbum

So we eat too much, drink too much, don’t get enough exercise and preparing to exit an Entegra during a fire is the topic! Has anyone had a fire while sleeping in their Entegra? Pretty sure I’ve got bigger things to worry about, like my next colonoscopy! If I die in a fire in my Entegra, feel free to say I told you so!

[LWBAZ]

Originally Posted by Nowabeachbum

So we eat too much, drink too much, don’t get enough exercise and preparing to exit an Entegra during a fire is the topic! Has anyone had a fire while sleeping in their Entegra? Pretty sure I’ve got bigger things to worry about, like my next colonoscopy! If I die in a fire in my Entegra, feel free to say I told you so!

Will do Gary - do you prefer e-mail or a text message?

On a more serious note, I totally agree with you that the likelihood of a fire in any motorhome equipped with a residential refrigerator (as opposed to gas absorption) is pretty low. But as has been indicated in this thread, the possibility of one of us having our coach end up on its side or roof is a bit greater. Having almost been there myself due to a steer tire blowout on a highway with a ditch just off the right lane, I can relate to that possibility. If an unfortunate situation like that should occur, having given some forethought to an exit plan isn't going to hurt.

In that regard, I've learned some things reading this thread and appreciate everyone's comments.

And Gary, please don't die in a motorhome fire. If you do, I'm going to feel really bad about goofing on you!

[Gary.Jones]

Smoke and fumes are a more likely killer (to me) than the fire directly. There are disposable temporary hand held up against your face oxygen masks that I have seen advertised for this sort of situation, and intended to really look into their safety and usefulness, but then, of course got distracted with one thousand other important things and never got back to the exploration.

Gary

[777 Driver]

I've adopted a strategy of multiple smoke detectors and fire extinguishers (dry chemical, class A,B,C).

In addition to the OEM smoke detectors, I added two of these:


https://www.amazon.com/First-Alert-S...2416856&sr=8-5

I placed one in the basement near the batteries and the inverters and the other in the bedroom. Any smoke event in the basement will trigger an alarm in the bedroom.

Regarding fire extinguishers, I've placed two in the bedroom, one on the kitchen area, one by the entry door, one in each opposite corner basement bays.

My focus is early detection and multiple extinguishers in the hope that we'll be able to exit any fire event out the front door rather than the questionable emergency exit windows.


There's also this product that I've considered:


https://www.amazon.com/Evacuate-A-Bu...2417679&sr=8-3

Hopefully, with early detection and adequate extinguishing capability to beat a path through fire on our way to the entry door, we'll make it out.

Take care,
Stu

P.S. One benefit of airline training was the opportunity to regularly practice using a hand held fire extinguisher to put out a fire. If you've never used one, you might benefit from trying one out under controlled circumstances. Aim at the base of the flames and with a sweeping motion, deploy the extinguishing agent. Then quickly walk to the exit.

[Gary.Jones]

This is the sort of thing that I have seen advertised before but never followed up on.

https://firemask.com/

There are now 5 or 6 companies that all appear to be selling the same product under different names.. There are some videos on YouTube. What I wanted to see was a video of an actual demonstration of a person putting it on (the amount of time) and then being in a smoke filled area for 10 minutes using the system to breath. The advertisements say that they work for 60 minutes. I see the price for virtually the same product from about $29 to about $70. I would consider buying two to keep bedside if I could see someone actually using it.

Gary