Every year during this time, I make sure to pay special attention to writing an article about RVing and Fire Prevention Week. This is actually one of my more important topics and usually, dissolves into an outright fire prevention rant by the end. But, that’s OK, it is that important, and I get fired-up about it. (Pun intended.)
Depending on your geographical location, you may be noticing a slight dip in temperature and the familiar beginnings of Fall. The leaves on the trees are just beginning to change color from lush greens to the orange, yellow and brown that comes with the season. It’s certainly beautiful, but it’s also all becoming ripe to burn.
First, let me get this out of the way: Buy a fire extinguisher today for your RV, if you don’t have one. Make sure it is a good size and I recommend you have at least two in your RV. These are for campfires that might stray or fire that is occurring outside of your RV.
That brings me to my second point: your RV is NOT fireproof. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. The materials used in the construction of virtually all RVs are combustible. If you should have a fire inside of your RV, GET OUT! Know where there is an exit window. Make an exit plan and makes sure everyone is aware of that exit plan. Where there is smoke there is usually fire. Smoke inside of your RV is your sign to exit. Watch the video below and you’ll see why you need to know where an exit window is.
Did you watch it? Scary, huh?
It’s also a good idea to keep all of your valuable documents and information in a fireproof safe close to an exit so you can grab and go. Like I said, RVs burn quickly so don’t get fixated on grabbing those documents if they aren’t immediately on your way out. You have to quickly and get away from your unit as fast as possible and start the warning process. Both alarm and fire travels quickly in an RV park, so make sure you knock on the neighbors door and get them out too. If your neighbors are sleeping in their RV under the nice roar of a roof ac, they may not be aware that anything is happening around them.
Remember, you have to move fast, but you must also stay calm and focused on your safety and those around you. Once a fire is lit in either your RV or at your campsite under dry conditions, it is going to spread very quickly. You must take assertive action to either extinguish it, or move far from it.
I just tell everyone that if you aren’t comfortable with fire, don’t play with it. More importantly, use your heads, folks. Don’t turn your campfire into a bonfire and for the love of Pete, if there is an active burn ban, leave the matches in the RV. It’s just selfish foolishness to start any type of fire against a burn ban. You are responsible for what you burn.
Rant over.