Caravan Fire Leads to Safety Warning

A recent caravan fire on a Pembrokeshire farm has prompted a safety message from Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue Service (MWWFR). The occupant who was involved in the fire required treatment by ambulance personnel for smoke inhalation and slight burns to his arm.

The FRS is urging those who stay in a caravan or mobile home to have a working smoke alarm, which is just as important as having one in a house.

If a fire breaks out in a caravan or mobile home it is always serious. There are a few simple steps which you can follow to reduce the chances of a fire in your caravan or mobile home.

These include ensuring your caravan and tent is at least 6 metres apart and away from parked cars. You also need to make sure you know the fire arrangements on the camp site and where the nearest telephone is.

The FRS would also like to stress the importance of precautionary actions to take inside caravans. This includes fitting a smoke detector and having a dry powder fire extinguisher located near the door – optical alarms are usually most effective.

Area Manager, Jim Cameron said, “In the UK, fires in caravans and mobile homes result in around 9 deaths and 100 people being injured each year. By following a few basic steps and being aware of what you can do to keep yourself safe, you will be able to help prevent a fire and help to avoid yourself becoming a casualty! I would urge everyone who lives or holidays in a caravan to familiarise themselves with the following steps to improve their overall safety:”

• Don’t block air vents – if any leaking gas builds up you may fall unconscious and be unable to escape. Always keep the caravan ventilated. Ensure that air vents are clear – if air vents get blocked, it could be fatal
• If you smoke, use metal ashtrays – and never smoke in bed
• Turn off all appliances before you leave the caravan or go to bed
• Never use a cooker or heater whilst your caravan is moving
• When cooking, don’t leave any pans unattended
• If you are on a site, find out what the fire fighting arrangements are
• Don’t dry clothes over the stove
• Keep children away from matches or lighters
• Children should never be left alone in a caravan
• Remove any litter and rubbish near the caravan to reduce the risk of fire spreading
• We recommended that you have the following safety equipment for caravans: fire blanket, smoke alarm, dry powder extinguisher
• Gas cylinders should be kept outside the caravan. They should be turned off unless they are designed to run continuously and you should only change the bottle when they are completely empty
• If you suspect that there is a gas leak, turn off all appliances and the main cylinder valve, open all doors and windows and do not smoke or turn on any electrical switches or appliances until you have been given the all clear
• Never use fuel-burning devices inside a caravan or tent (e.g. disposable barbecues, camping stoves, camping heaters, lanterns, and charcoal grills)

If there’s a fire in your caravan:

• Get everyone out straight away
• Call the fire and rescue service and give your location with a map reference, if possible, or provide a nearby landmark, like a farm.

Further fire safety information is available via the MWWFRS website: www.mawwfire.gov.uk