Here's some fire tips if you really want to reduce your chances of experiencing an RV fire. According to an article I read, most RV fires come from a 12v short, so check all 12v connections before and after each trip. Tire fires are the second largest risk, at 20%, caused by faulty brakes and tires rubbing the fender well or each other, usually after a blow-out.
* 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.
* 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.
RV Safety Issues
Regardless just remember that there are 76 million casses of food poisoning ach year in the US. The CDC estimates that we all suffer a 1 in 6 chance of getting it. If food temperatures remain in the danger zone (40-140 degrees) for 4 hours it will allow bacteria to grow, contaminating the food, resulting in illness. Choose your poison. But rationally, what's a greater probability, traveling all day without your fridge running, allowing the temperature to rise too high causing food poisoning (a 1 in 6 chance on average according to the CDC, resulting in 5,000 US deaths each year.) or an RV fire from the fridge being left on while traveling?
What are your chances of being involved in an RV fire? Statistics state that 6,300 RV fires occur each year, more than half erupt while the RV is parked. So roughly 3,000 RV fires that occur each year while traveling divided by the number of rvs on the road 27 million (400,000 new ones get sold each year) = 1 in 9,000 chance of having an RV fire while traveling. This includes all RVs, including those self-powered ones which have a higher chance of catching fire because of more fuel and ignition sources present.
RV Fire Safety
Which risk would you rather take? A 1 in 6 chance of getting food poisoning or 1 in 9,000 chance of an rv fire while traveling (most of which are caused by other sources, such as 12v shorts, faulty brakes, rubbing tires and even damp charcoal or oily rags - not propane leaks.)
Want to be Mr. Safety, minimizing all risks? Unload your fridge and pack your food in an ice chest with plenty of ice, add dry ice or a couple gallons of frozen water bottles to your fridge while traveling more than 4 hours to ensure your food never reaches the danger zone.
For fire safety: Remove all old charcoal and rags from your camper. Replace tires every 6 years. Inspect your brakes, wheel bearings and air up your tires to manufacturer specs before every trip. Clean your refrigerator flue of wasp nests, spider webs and debris (the number one cause of fridge fires) before each trip and test for proper functioning on propane before you leave. Check all propane fittings for leaks and ensure all valves are closed before you travel.
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