Fires in Caravans

Following on our theme of safety in your caravan, we are going to look at fires in caravans and mobile homes.

Protect your caravan or mobile home from fire

Fires in caravans and mobile homes kill around 9 people and injure about 100 in the UK annually. Following some quick and easy steps and having an elementary degree of awareness, you are able to prevent the chance of fire in the caravan or mobile home. The following tips can help keep the family and caravan or mobile home protected from fire.

Fit a Smoke Alarm

Buying a smoke alarm can help save your home and the lives of yourself and your family. A working smoke alarm doubles a persons chance of surviving a fire and can reduce fatalities by up to 90%. Always buy an alarm which conforms to the British Standard. This means the alarm has achieved a standard acceptable to the British Standards Institution (BSI)

What are Smoke Alarms?

Smoke alarms are self contained devices that contain a way of detecting a fire (smoke detector) and giving an alert (alarm). They're about the dimensions of a hand and are normally fitted to the ceiling and are one of the most important caravan accessory you can get. They are able to detect fires in their first stages and give you those precious minutes to enable your family to exit your caravan in complete safety. Ensure you have at least one smoke alarm fitted in your caravan. A reasonably priced and easily fitted alarm is the Kidde Ionisation Smoke Alarm

Smoke alarms - don't forget to test out your alarm!

In order to protect your family against fire, it is vital you've got a smoke alarm. Once installed, it’s important you monitor the alarm, ensuring it's regularly tested, the batteries are replaced ahead of the low battery warning and the unit is changed before it reaches the use before date. Unfortunately it’s all too easy to forget to do these things, so you must devise some way of reminding yourself. In a standard smoke alarm, the battery should be replaced every 12 months. You can buy alarms fitted with 10 and 15 year batteries. The advantage is that you don’t have to replace the battery every year. Care of your alarm: once a week test it by pressing the test button till the alarm sounds. Once a year change the battery (unless it’s a ten-year alarm). Twice a year open the case and gently vacuum the inside using the soft-brush attachment to remove dust from the sensors. If it doesn't open, vacuum through the holes. After 10 years it’s best to get a whole new alarm.

Basic fire precautions

Kitchen Safety

Never leave the oven unattended if it is switched on. Always turn the handles of the pans inwards if you have children with you. If a chip pan catches on fire never pour water on it which will make the fire worse. Turn the heat off and use a fire extinguisher such as the Firemaster Extinguisher FM20 Powder to do the job properly and efficiently. Ensure that you have fire extinguishers &
fire blankets that are easily accessible.

Electricity safety

Make sure you turn off all plugs, tv's heaters and cookers before going to bed or leaving the caravan. Test your electrical wiring regularly, preferably whilst having your caravan serviced annually.

If you are a smoker

Never use plastic ash trays and make sure that all cigarettes are put out properly. Most importantly don't smoke in bed.

Heating

If you are using a free standing heater in your van stand it on a metal or stone slab. always leave a window open when fire is alight and try to keep your caravan clean of dust by sweeping regularly.