Caravan Fire Safety

Many people just don’t consider the risk of a caravan fire but whether you have a touring caravan or a static park home fire safety is critically important. Caravans and motor homes, and indeed boats and horseboxes with living accommodation, are often made from relatively combustible materials and so pose a proportionally greater fire risk than almost any other type of dwelling.

The causes of caravan fires are similar to those in the home but because caravans are smaller, high in wood content and have fewer partitions, fire spreads at a devastating rate. Most modern caravans are fitted with fire retardant upholstery and also with smoke alarms, but fires still happen. A burning cigarette in contact with a curtain could have a caravan well alight in minutes. 

As always with fire, smoke inhalation rather than the actual fire causes the most injuries.

Causes of caravan fires include:

• Unattended cooking.
• Chip pan fires are very dangerous because there is little distance between ceiling and hob.
• Smoking: falling asleep whilst smoking, dropping ash or not extinguishing cigarette properly.
• Electrical faults in appliances or their wiring. Size constraints can cause problems ie flexes of electrical appliances falling into gas flame of cooker.
• Upholstery eg cushions or curtains leaning against heaters.

Prevention

• Do not leave children alone in kitchen when cooking
• Always take extra care with hot oil
• Keep matches and saucepan handles out of children’s reach
• Make sure candles are in secure holders and never leave them unattended
• Make sure that cigarettes are stubbed out properly and disposed of carefully, NEVER smoke in bed.
• Do not overload electrical sockets
• Ensure that all upholstery is in good condition.
• Fit a recommended smoke alarm and check the batteries at least once a year. Clean alarms after periods of storage as dirt may prevent the alarm from working. Fireangel have a selection of high quality smoke alarms: http://www.fireangel.co.uk/Smoke-Alarms.aspx
• Have an escape plan for every occupied sleeping area and make sure everyone knows about it.
• Ensure that all windows and doors are easy to open and that nothing obscures these exit routes.
• If possible turn gas cylinders off at night and if possible use electricity instead of gas to power heaters.
• Thoroughly check all gas appliances regularly for faults and leaks.
• Leave a gap of at least six metres between caravans.
• Check out the fire procedures on sites.

Buying a smoke alarm could help save the lives of you and your family.