Fire Escape Windows / Drills

[Chief55m]

I have never used either of my 2 fire escape windows - I have never even tried them.

Has anyone ever tired to get out of their coach using the living room window and the bedroom window?

I am concerned with our ability to get out if we need to in a hurray. I saw a video by Mac the Fire Guy indicating we would have as little as 20 seconds to vacate.

Thoughts or comments are appreciated.

Do you run fire escape drills??

TIA

[Tim Fox]

My DW was Macs guinea pig at Perry a few years ago and was able to successfully exit an emergency window. The emergency windows are laughable as an escape route in a real emergency. It’s been brought up to Pat Carroll numerous times but he always blames the lawyers for not being able to incorporate a true rear access door as other manufacturers have managed.

[jwprosser]

Well its further to ground than you think. I have placed a Fire Extinguisher in the back as well as the one by the front door and one more on the drivers side compartment net to the fuel fill. I generally fill from that location 99 % of the time. My thought process is that at least with a couple of well spaced extinguishers I will be able to fight my way out... I hope I never have to test it but I also have the habit of not landing well, so I will try the fight and run process.

[RayandWendy]

Entegra has this video on using the bedroom window. https://youtu.be/n9nV7_wpojw

[LWBAZ]

Interesting video, but a bit unrealistic. If you tried to perform all those steps, under duress, in a real emergency, you'd be very lucky to get two people out of a burning coach in time.

Amy & I attended one of Mac the Fire Guy's seminars a few years ago out at Quartzsite. Both of us did a trial run escape out the bedroom window of a coach belonging to one of the attendees. It was an eye-opening experience.

An aft exit door like Newmar and American coach are offering would be MUCH easier. Tiffin has a variation on the exit door, with a drop-down mechanism on the wall behind the bed headboard. I haven't seen one in person, but a simple aft exit door almost has to be quicker.

I don't buy that Entegra can't do an aft exit door. If their direct competitors can do it, so can they.

One other comment. The forward exit window is always larger than the bedroom exit window, and as such would be easier to use. But if the fire is in an area where you could use the forward window exit you could most likely take the simple approach of going out the entry door. The best thing about the forward exit window is that you can open it up for ventilation. Given a choice I'd opt for one of them on both sides of the living area.

[garysfb]

Originally Posted by RayandWendy

Entegra has this video on using the bedroom window. https://youtu.be/n9nV7_wpojw

Don looks a little nervous on the way out...just saying. Watching him I don't think I could get my plus size body out unscathed. I think the better way is straight out the front!

[Dieselgem]

I will take my chances with a fire Extinguisher and a blanket. I have been in a real house fire when first married. It moves fast and you are not thinking clearly when coming out of a sound sleep. By the time the shades are up the window open, we will be out the front door, hopefully.

[Tim Fox]

I’ve placed fire extinguishers in the front bay under the driver, in the chassis battery bay, in the kitchen as well as the one furnished by the front door. In defense of Mr. Carroll, he suggests a fire is probably going to start in the engine bay and there should be a clear path to the front door. Without a true rear exit, my thought is of a simple fender bender that makes the front door unusable. I’m going to feel pretty silly climbing out a window to exchange insurance cards.

[DoggieDaddy]

Dual extinguisher systems would be an interesting concept. One for the engine compartment and one for the coach interior. With the proper chemicals of course.

[LWBAZ]

Originally Posted by Tim Fox

In defense of Mr. Carroll, he suggests a fire is probably going to start in the engine bay and there should be a clear path to the front door. Without a true rear exit, my thought is of a simple fender bender that makes the front door unusable. I’m going to feel pretty silly climbing out a window to exchange insurance cards.

Pat is right that the MOST LIKELY source of a fire in a motorhome with a residential refrigerator is the engine compartment. And yes, you can add fire extinguishing systems to minimize the danger of an engine compartment fire. But that’s not the ONLY potential source of a fire in a highly flammable motorhome. Adding an aft escape door would cost chump change in the overall scheme of things and it just might come in handy at some point in time.

Most of them are located behind a toilet, so even if you never need it for an escape path it would make it easier to work on or change out a toilet that’s acting up. With three of Entegra’s direct competitors (American Coach, Newmar & Tiffin) doing it, why the reluctance?

[Persistent]

At the very least you should open the escape exits. They can get stuck when gaskets attach themselves to the frames. Open them. Lubricate the gaskets. Actually crawling out is also important and difficult. Don't add stuck windows to the mix.

[LWBAZ]

Originally Posted by Persistent

At the very least you should open the escape exits. They can get stuck when gaskets attach themselves to the frames. Open them. Lubricate the gaskets. Actually crawling out is also important and difficult. Don't add stuck windows to the mix.

Very good point. When you find them stuck, which you will if you haven't opened them in a while, the trick to getting them open is apply pressure at one of the lower corners of the window. Once that corner breaks loose, the rest of the window will follow.

[Rocky Larson]

My rear window, yes actually in the rear, is a one and done fire escape. There is no practice. My continental spare tire carrier make a ledge about a third of the way down. Still a good drop. Pillows and blankets lead the way. Cabinets on both sides of the bed each have a good size ballpeen hammer if windows need to be busted out. 2 of my seven (7) extinguishers are also there.

[hdgoldie]

We keep two small extinguishers (one on each side of the bed) in the bedroom, one in the kitchen, the one that came in the coach up front, one in the basement and one in the toad. They won’t buy us much time but we hope they will buy us enough.