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Its scary when I think of the things I've done in the past camping,

I had no idea until these poor people have died how dangerous gas and bbq's could be. I've often lit the cooker to keep warm in a tent.

Hi, see this for some pointers:

Carbon Monoxide, BBQ and Fire Safety Advice Safety advice for caravanners and campers relating to barbecues, and CO carbon monoxide poisoning, cooking in tents etc. Please read this and share. Never put a BBQ in a tent to keep warm, it will kill you and your loved ones.

Cheers  Ratty

You are right, one of the problems is ventilation. Caravans have built in vents. But camping in tents has changed.  In ye olden days before polyester and sewn in ground sheets, airflow was not a problem.  Now sealing themselves in, what is effectively a plastic bag, not good. 

The manufacturers produce what the public will buy.  So the cheaper Polyester and sewn in groundsheets draught free models are the one that sell.  Draught free is also no air flow. So equipment that was not  a problem in the past combined with the new tents not a good combination.  EHU leads left coiled have also started fatal  fires.  So where will that leave us.  Common sense is the way to keep you and yours safe.  My way to resolve it,  Utility tent for gas or EHU  equipment.

I've regularly used gas appliances, lights, cookers and fridges inside tents, and will continue to do so.

I will also continue to make sure there's plenty of high and low level ventilation though!

Making sure the appliance is well maintained and burning correctly is also important - a blue flame is fine, a yellow one is dangerous.

Glen

Quote: Originally posted by Daves mate on 21/6/2012

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As an add on to this what do we think about gas powered fridges in tents? I've been thinking of getting one so we're not so reliant on ehu. I remember mum and dad having a caravan in the late 70's with gas lights that we, as others, used all the time and don't recall hearing any stories such as those we've heard of recently.

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Quote: Originally posted by oldham on 21/6/2012

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You are right, one of the problems is ventilation. Caravans have built in vents. But camping in tents has changed.  In ye olden days before polyester and sewn in ground sheets, airflow was not a problem.  Now sealing themselves in, what is effectively a plastic bag, not good. 

The manufacturers produce what the public will buy.  So the cheaper Polyester and sewn in groundsheets draught free models are the one that sell.  Draught free is also no air flow. So equipment that was not  a problem in the past combined with the new tents not a good combination.  EHU leads left coiled have also started fatal  fires.  So where will that leave us.  Common sense is the way to keep you and yours safe.  My way to resolve it,  Utility tent for gas or EHU  equipment.

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