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Just got back from an eventful weekend that was topped off by the tent nearly catching fire at 3 am in the morning !!!!

We got a second campin gaz single burner stove which is great when you need an extra ring or just boiling up a kettle and got a bargain buy of 12 cans of gas for the price of 8 from Go Outdoors. Not campin gaz canisters but burgundy and silver cans sold in packs of 4.

The wind had been getting up during the night and at 3 am I was outside adding a few more guy lines to secure the tent and my better half had thought she would pop the kettle on for a cuppa as we just couldn't sleep with the tent being battered around as it was. Suddenly the tent lit up and and a scream as the stove caught fire, luckily my quick thinking woman disengaged the lock arm on the canister but it still stayed alight so she opened the side door and threw the whole thing out of the tent and the wind put the flames out otherwise god knows what would have happened.

We let it cool down then had a look at it, the stove was sooty black but all ok with the seal still in place around the locking valve so we re tried the canister located the lock arm and we could hear a faint hiss from the valve neck of the canister which was obviously the case of the fire.

So a word of warning check the canister don't assume its ok and in light of our experience we will from now on be paying a few pounds extra and staying with reputable suppliers.

Glad you managed to get the fire out and nobody was hurt, and surely this is a great real life example of why you should not cook in the tent

If your oh had not been so quick reacting your whole tent could have burned down and worse gone in sixty seconds comes to mind and we are not talking Eleanor

Hi Rockford,

Yes they where and in fact they are being sold with the stoves as a package deal at Go Outdoors. We have contacted them on a safety aspect and they are going to withdraw them from sale and look into it. 

If they are the mega 1 gas canister I think they are distributed by gelert and they are the canisters that I have been using in my stove since I bought it without any problems, it may just be that particular canister that had an issue with the seal, have you tried a different canister on the stove and has the fire done any damage to the stove seal

Quote: Originally posted by 2gocampin on 27/5/2009

Hi Rockford,

Yes they where and in fact they are being sold with the stoves as a package deal at Go Outdoors. We have contacted them on a safety aspect and they are going to withdraw them from sale and look into it. 

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hi 2gocampin,
i'm glad that Go Outdoors did the right thing and withdrew them from sale!
have you thought about asking for a partial refund/compensation for your BH's (and your) distress?

i've always bought the 220g campingaz canisters from argos, as bulk buying 12 is cheaper than buying some 4 pack generic ones from other retailers. i mean you can't argue with £19.59 (used to be about £17) for 12 instead of £9.99 for 4 can you? here

if the ones you got in your deal are the "mega 1" from gelert,

they should be ashamed as they should test the canisters stability on the average campers travels - in a stuffed full backpack for example.

Well got to hand it to them Go Outdoors have been exceptional. Took the stove and gas bottle along to them after talking with the store manager and they have replaced the stove with a new one and given us a suply of new gas canisters.

They are sending the old units away to be investigated and as I said earlier have removed all the Mega 1 canisters from sale.

Top customer service I would say.

Dont let our experience put you off the Mega 1 canisters we have used them before with no problems, all we were saying is its best to check any can before lighting the grill for leaks.

This was most probably a one off and if it were a regular event they would have been completely removed from sale nationwide.

Play safe and take a moment to check thats all, oh and not in the tent !!!!

Lucky there with the gas,

There was a thread a little while back on these stoves.

I've got one and i check each time to be honest, open lid and watch the gas can go on to the seal as pressing the lever down, and make sure the tab is in the cut out first.

Andy

Bump.

Think peeps should know about any probs, Be Safe!

Andy

Be very careful when disposing of gas cannisters. When we were HSMs, in fact the year we retired, as we were tidying the site, there was a pile of wood to burn. My OH set light to it and there were two explosions causing him to slip down the banking and fall onto the fire. He burnt his face and hands very badly and he staggered into the office where I put him under the shower. I took him to hospital where they transferred him by helicopter to Selly Oak hospital. Its a long story but he did make a good recovery and it was proved that some disposable gas cannisters had been thrown onto the woodpile by some idots. A month later we went on our retirement treat to The Maldives where he was advised to stay out of the sun and wear a big hat!

So pleased what could have been a tragic accident turned out OK 2gocamping.