Common Causes of Fire

Cigarettes are the most common cause of fire in caravans. Hot ash, improperly extinguished cigarette ends and smokers falling asleep whilst cigarettes are still alight are all cited as the most common causes of caravan fires.

Unattended cooking is also a great risk in a compact space. If chip pans catch alight they can throw flames into the air, which can easily catch onto low ceilings and quickly destroy a caravan. Wires from electrical equipment, including kettles, can trail across hot hobs causing fire.

Electrical fires or mechanical failure of equipment can in some instances also be blamed for fires.

How to Protect Yourself Against Caravan Fires

• Install a smoke alarm. Change the battery every year. Check the battery and clean the smoke alarm before every trip.
• Check the seals and the hose connected to the gas cylinders. Have them checked over by a CORGI registered engineer is you are in any doubt.
• Clean the vents of the caravan.
• Ensure the windows open easily, so that they can be used as alternative excape routes.
• Make sure that there are two exits from every sleeping area in the caravan.
• Ensure that your caravan has a fire extinguisher that is not past its expiry date.
• Ensure that your caravan has a fire blanket, these are the only effective way of tacking a chip pan fire. A fire extinguisher will blow the burning oil all over your caravan.
• When you set up your caravan leave a 6m or 20ft gap in between your caravan and the next.
• Turn gas cylinders off when they are not in use, particularly at night and when you are out of the caravan.
• Make sure that clothes or upholstery are not near to any kind of heat source, as they can catch alight.

The Bottom Line

If there is a fire in your caravan evacuate it immediately. You may be able to tackle small fires with either a fire extinguisher or a fire blanket but if you are in doubt then you should leave it to the professionals.

You do not have to wait until there is a fire to contact the fire service. Your local fire brigade should be more than happy to give you advice about fire safety and in some instances they will come and do a practical fire safety check for you.

1. Regularly check your windscreen for chips and cracks.  If they are not dealt with they could worsen whilst you are driving and cause serious visibility problems. Some chips can be sorted without a whole new windscreen being fitted, saving you time and money as well as increasing safety. Approximately 2 million people fail their MOT each year because of problems with the windscreen.
2. Check your tyres.  Kwikfit estimate that 1/10 drivers head out onto icy roads with illegal tyre depth.  If you are unsure take your vehicles to a garage and ask their opinion.  In many snow bound countries there are laws insisting on the use of winter tyres, in the U.K. that is not law but it is advisable if you are going to be using your vehicles in difficult conditions.
3. Salt and grits spread onto the roads to prevent ice forming may make driving safer but have a detrimental affect on the health of your car.  Check for rust on the bodywork and under the car, the earlier you find it the easier it is to sort out.
4. Inspect your windscreen wipers for wear. If they break because of ice on the glass, or if they are just ineffective it could cause you major problems when driving.  It is recommended by manufacturers that windscreen wipers are changed once a year.
5. Watch out for pot holes and be sure to avoid them at all times.  Going into potholes can cause all sorts of problems for your car.  The most common problem caused by potholes is axle and suspension damage. It is estimated that the cost to British motorists is £2.8 billion every year.

Spring is almost upon us, so fingers crossed for some lovely weather soon.  But it is worth carrying out these simple checks on your car, caravan or motohome to ensure that every journey you make in your is as safe as it could possible be.