Davis Law Group, P.S.

An RV Fire Can be Fatal – Fire Hazards, Part 2

There are several fire hazards that passengers on RVs and motor homes should know about, and most importantly, owners and drivers should know.

Before taking your long road trip this summer, read the following fire hazards:

• Even if the flame on your galley stove goes out, gas continues to flow and could result in an explosion. A stove should never be left unattended or used to heat your coach. Open propane flames release high levels of carbon monoxide.

• A hot exhaust pipe or catalytic converter can ignite dry grass.

• In a compact galley, all combustibles -- from paper towels to curtains -- are apt to be closer to the stove, so use even more caution in your coach than you do at home. A box of baking soda -- the ingredient in powder extinguishers -- can be used in lieu of a fire extinguisher for minor galley flare-ups.

• Show travelers how to unhook electricity (screw-on cords can be tricky) and how to close propane valves, in case either of these measures is called for.

• A pinhole-size leak in a radiator or heater hose can spray antifreeze on hot engine parts. Get your engine checked before leaving for long hauls.

• You should have three fire extinguishers for your coach -- one in the galley, one in the bedroom, and one outside of the coach in an unlocked compartment or in your tow vehicle. Make sure family members know how to use the extinguishers and understand which extinguishers are effective on various fires.

• Do not pull the pin and expel the contents to test your powder extinguisher. If you use a portion of the powder extinguisher, have it refilled or replaced immediately. When you have a fire extinguisher refilled, ask to shoot off the charge first (most refill stations have a special place where this can be done safely). This lets you see how far it shoots and how long a charge lasts.

• Invert and shake your dry-powder or dry-chemical extinguisher monthly to loosen the powder. The jarring of the coach does not loosen the powder; in fact, it packs the powder, which may make your extinguisher ineffective.

• During your monthly inspection, check the fire extinguisher gauge to determine if there is pressure in the extinguisher. If the gauge indicates empty or needs charging, replace or recharge the extinguisher immediately. To test non-gauged extinguishers, push the plunger indicator (usually green or black) down. If it does not come back up, the extinguisher has no pressure to expel its contents. If you need help testing your fire extinguishers, check with your local fire department.

What YOU and your passengers can do in the unfortunate case of a fire:

• Make sure all travelers know what the smoke alarm sounds like and what to do when they hear it.

• Test your smoke detector regularly.

• Review with everyone the "Stop, Drop, and Roll" rule so they know what to do when clothing is on fire.

• Make sure visitors can open the front door. Not all manufacturers use the same lock and latch assembly.

• Choose a rallying point where everyone will meet immediately after escaping, so everyone can be accounted for.

• Practice unhooking your tow vehicle as quickly as possible to avoid spreading the fire to other vehicles.

• Re-emphasize to everyone aboard that objects can be replaced, people can't. Never stay behind or re-enter a burning coach to retrieve anything.

• There are plenty of fire and life safety tools that can save lives, but for them to be effective, they must be in working condition and you must know how to use them properly.

• Have at least two escape routes -- one in the front and one in the rear of the coach. As soon as they're old enough, teach children to open hatches and emergency exits.

• Develop a plan of action before a fire occurs.

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Click the link to read An RV Fire Can be Fatal – Fire Hazards, Part 1