Message Forums

so no good news there then! I guess on the plus side you don't hear of many tent fires..................do you..............

only joking! I have never heard of any.

But I think I will look at having a strong blade eg stanley type knife that I keep in the sleeping section to cut throughh the canvas as a means of escape if there was a fire at night. Seems OTT doesn't it, but then better safe than sorry and it is quick & cheap to do.

There was a link on this forum to a film of a trailer tent burning - it was very disturbing. Hopefully the person who gave the link can put it back up for us,

Homebird

Usually there is a known reason for a fire starting, often related to cooking or smoking so as long as you are not doing either  whilst in bed you are unlikely to have to cut your way out.  I suppose there are limited risks from things like a stay ember from someone's camp fire or a faulty electric devise used in your camper at night (heaters etc) but risks really are very low.   Not sure you would have enough time to cut yourself out in a fire anyway.  

I take the point about cooking or smoking, but I was thinking of the event of a neighboring camper smoking or cooking whilst I was in bed!

just a precaution to have the knife. it would be dreadful to think of having time but being unable to get out.

I do sound morbid don't I but thats what comes of attending fire training that is run by ex firemen! I never put my dishwasher on now and go to bed ( in the house I am now!) nor tumble dryer if I had one. Apparently many fires have started like this including one at Terry Wogan's home, but smoke detectors alerted them. Thank goodness for smoke detectors.

Quote: Originally posted by homebird2003 on 09/10/2010

There was a link on this forum to a film of a trailer tent burning - it was very disturbing. Hopefully the person who gave the link can put it back up for us,

Homebird

---

---

Hi.devil99qa

Did your Crusader have a fire extinguisher with it when you bought it.We have just got a new Countryman on Saturday and packed it away for winter on Sunday.I dont recall seeing one in the unit.Cheers.Alex

a near miss  indeed lewops and as you say good old wuff!  Thanks for your comments Paul, good to know I am not the only one who thinks like this!

Alex re the fire extinguisher, I think it is better to buy a new one anyway cos the original may be too old and inefficient. Personally I am not sure that an extinguisher would be much use given the very short time available............I think a fire blanket is better, I place it on top of the wardrobe when we are pitching, with the tapes hanging down so that it would be ready to just grab and throw on flames if an incident occurred at the kitchen area and had not reached the canvas, but really I doubt that anything would help if the canvas caught light so the best plan is as Alison says to have an escape plan already thought through and just get out and away, alerting others nearby by shouting.

it is indeed surprising that we do not have more thefts on campsites, but then there have been chhild abductions over the years, so thats bad enough. I always warn my daughter to make sure the little ones are not left alone nor sleep alone.

I do sound like a nervous wreck don't I! I just think we must think things through carefully in the light of the worst possible scenario and then we can relax knowing we have a plan.

Quote: Originally posted by homebird2003 on 09/10/2010

---

There was a link on this forum to a film of a trailer tent burning - it was very disturbing. Hopefully the person who gave the link can put it back up for us,

Homebird

---

I think this the link;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeQS8DFfU2Q

Quite dramatic and obviously upsetting for the family concerned when they returned.