I spotted this van at the rest area at Currabubula yesterday morning. The fire happened on Monday night(02/04) On speaking with a MH owner parked nearby he said "was due to cooking inside and it got a bit too hot" He also said the fire was quite spectacular.
I can advise that no-one was hurt but it appears as though these caravanners have lost everything.
A timely reminder that if you are cooking inside your van don't leave the kitchen and please ensure you get a fire blanket and learn how to use it correctly.
I will attempt to post an image I have but if not successful I will post a link later on
frank
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Avagreatday.
Kathy and Frank currently at Home near Quirindi NSW
Not much left of that is there. I sometimes boil water on the inside cooker but only if its a bit rough outside. Prefer my little portable cooker outside, now I know why.
That must have been very frightening indeed. I saw my father in-laws van go up in a fire that went through his property in Majorca near Maryborough Victoria in 1985. By the time everything settled all that was left was a small pile of melted aluminium, nothing else and I mean nothing, we don't even know what happened to the steel floor frame.
Very scary, fire.
At least no one was hurt.
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DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
That's scary! I often cook inside on account of I'm a wimp - first hint of a cool breeze and I'm inside. But I do make sure that I watch the food cooking at all times. Note to self - get a fire blanket and learn how to use it!
That's scary! I often cook inside on account of I'm a wimp - first hint of a cool breeze and I'm inside. But I do make sure that I watch the food cooking at all times. Note to self - get a fire blanket and learn how to use it!
Good note nomadic1.
I too do a little inside cooking but like you keep an eye on it at all times. I have a Extinguisher and Fire Blanket in my Camper and a Extinguisher in the Tug.
__________________
Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
Totally agree Kandagal, I cook inside a lot of the time, have a fire extinguisher must get a fire blanket.......but surely it comes down to common sense wherever you are cooking.
When I bought my motorhome it had one old fire extibuisher by the drivers door. Nothing in the house part, so I bought a fire blanket and put it neer the cooking and a new fire extinguisher and put it near the side door. I still havent done any cooking with the gas yet. But Im ready.
You should check your fire extinguisher is still charged every now and then. We got a card from the CFS with the following instruictions:
1. Is the safety pin in place?
2. Check the pressure gauge. Is the indicator needle located in the green?
3. Turn the fire extinguisher upside down and shake it until you can feel the powder inside moving. You may need to give it a gentle tap. (NB Powder will settle on the bottom of the fire extinguisher through general road vibrations.) Can you feel it moving inside?
If the answer to any question is NO, consider replacing the extinguisher or having it recharged.
When I got Myrtle the fire extinguisher that came with her was an old yellow one. My S in L said they were now outdated and illegal, so had to go out and buy a new one. Supercheap Auto has them and at a good price as does Bunnings. Between 20 - 30 dollars from memory.
The extinguisher and fire blanket are necessities, granted. However a fire could easily overwhelm, rendering those devices next to useless.
The design of some vans, an example being the placement and construction of curtains, and taking risks through (say) cooking in oil or not keeping a look-out, suggest that being careful up-front is the best protection. Deaths through fire from cheap heaters happen often enough and in caravan parks where water and help are readily to hand.
However a change in thinking is required by manufacturers as well as by owners because rigs present higher risk for fires than houses.
Returning to the lifestyle I am constantly amazed, but maybe I shouldn't be, by the construction defects that could and should have been corrected eons ago. Building less flammable vans is part of that. For example, no-one has mentioned the use of products that can easily kill by smouldering which is a likely event.
I am not asking for more guvvy brochures and warning signs just a modicum of sense to correct obvious and known deficiencies that are capable of being fixed to better manage risks. Owners have to take it from there. I am not for the Nanny State but paying tens of thousands of dollars for a likely death trap of uncertain construction quality is a damned poor show in this age.
Wow!!!!...............But look at those Two Bombs that luckily did not go off.
