Community Forums

jjoe · 12-06-2007, 06:37 AM

If your RV was to catch fire, you may only have a couple of minutes to get out before the whole thing burns to the ground. I just got two new ones for our motor home. One in the bedroom and one near the stove in the kitchen area. We also have one near the front door. I know that I may not be able to put out a fire, but hopefully they may give us time to escape before the whole thing burns up.

jjoe · 12-06-2007, 06:37 AM

If your RV was to catch fire, you may only have a couple of minutes to get out before the whole thing burns to the ground. I just got two new ones for our motor home. One in the bedroom and one near the stove in the kitchen area. We also have one near the front door. I know that I may not be able to put out a fire, but hopefully they may give us time to escape before the whole thing burns up.

HobbyJack · 12-06-2007, 08:25 AM

Extra fire extinguishers sounds like a winner to me.....

ex. Gastonia boy.....

GaryKD · 12-06-2007, 11:28 AM

I have three fire extinguishers in my coach. Placed the same as in the OP.

rebelsbeach · 12-06-2007, 01:22 PM

ALWAYS REMEMBER to save yourself first!!

Make certain you have the door accessible BEFORE you start any type of effort to fight the fire...

These campers go up in a matter of MINUTES, so as a former professional firefigher, my advice is to SAVE yourself and that means GET OUT NOW!

I have seen too many close calls, even heard personal testimonies from folks who couldn't believe how fast the unit burned...

Personally, it is my advice to get out and STAY OUT.....They make these coaches every day.

Something else to think of.....How many of you know where the escape window(s) are in your rig, AND HAVE PRACTICED opening them.

Now that's something to think about.

BZam · 12-06-2007, 02:42 PM

I have three inside and a big one outside at a compartment near the rear. This is what I got from Mac's FMCA seminar. The outside one he calls a 'bus buster' for a toad or rear engine fire.

I need to get one in my toad but have not got around to it. This thread again reminds me to do it so guess I will this week.

DriVer · 12-06-2007, 05:08 PM

If you have powder type fire extinguishers - throw those away because there's a good chance they won't discharge. There's a high probability that a power extinguisher will be a big block of powder in the bottom of the extinguisher and it won't work.

Go to Home Depot of Lowes and buy a foam type extinguisher. It's great for just about any type of RV situation. If it's beyond the capability of the foam extinguisher there's no need to worry about it. Just get yourself, the DW and your pets safely away from the RV.

JJ Hamick · 12-06-2007, 10:07 PM

R...rescue
A...alarm
C...contain
E...Exstinquish OR escape

RV Wizard · 12-07-2007, 12:49 AM

We have six fire extinguishers. 4 on the coach, (1 in bedroom, kitchen, front door, outside compartment) and 1 in each towed. We also have an escape ladder (rope type) for the bedroom since the window is so far off the ground. We keep in in the foot of the bed and have fire drill practiced a couple of times.

lthrnk · 12-07-2007, 01:53 AM

Great headsup and good advice from all. Thanks for the info on the foam units.

Route 66 · 12-07-2007, 03:08 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">We also have an escape ladder (rope type) for the bedroom since the window is so far off the ground. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Mike brings up a good point that the windows on motorhomes can be 7' or more off the ground and quite a drop.

CoastieSCPO · 12-07-2007, 07:22 AM

Yesterday, I had a real-life experience with a fire at a friends residence involving the wood burning stove. We got it under control, but it made a real mess and will cost lots of time, money and heartaches to fix. The flue caught the wood ceiling and insulation on fire and we darn near lost the house.

Anyway, we used a powder type fire extinquisher and water to put the fire and the smoldering insulation out. Two points to remember here: the fire extinquisher was not readily available and driVer is correct, a foam fire extinquisher would have been better. Between the smoke and the nasty stuff that the powder unit put in the air, it was very difficult to breathe.

I realize that the fire was in a home and not in an RV, but the same principles apply. We must be prepared! My friends are RV'ers and own a beautiful Carriage fiver that's parked next to the house, so they will be living in it for a while during the clean-up and repairs. The RV has good fire extinguishers.
Bob

"007" · 12-07-2007, 08:08 AM

Like has been said by DriVer Foam is better but until you change them out make sure you shake them power ones a couple times a year for them to funtion as they should.

parmm · 12-08-2007, 12:37 PM

Yep, cause they say the powder ones can "cake". I don't know if that is true or not.

Also, you want to make sure you are awake to use it. The proper smoke detector helps. The new photo ones seem to give quicker warning than the older style ion detectors
Pat