Message Forums

Quote: Originally posted by lurchy on 22/8/2010

---

but her reply left me scratchin my head." the trouble now is tents are getting bigger so pitches will be smaller" . Why not put less pitches in for safety ??????   or is it just me ?

---

Quote: Originally posted by lurchy on 22/8/2010

---

I dont know if there is a specified distance for fire regulations on a camp site , or is it just up to the owners. We have just returned from a week on wooda in cornwall . Spent the week with the thought of fire on my mind as the tents were stupidly close.If this had happened there the dam lot would have gone up... Rang the office to see if other pitches were open to move to , there were none , but her reply left me scratchin my head." the trouble now is tents are getting bigger so pitches will be smaller" . Why not put less pitches in for safety ??????   or is it just me ?

---

 

I was just thinking that. I'm not aware of any regulations, and how festivals would get round it if there were?

I've often wondered if campsites should have to meet certain minimum standards, but am generally against red tape and things getting too controlled (plus it would have to be monitored, and that would cost, which would put pitch fees up). In the case of the 6m "rule" though, I think maybe it should have statuory backing.

I'm a bit neurotic about fire (always make sure I know where the nearest exit is in theatres, hotels etc) and it really gives me the willies. I keep a fire blanket handy, don't cook in the tent, and even keep the dogs' leads on at night in case we have to get out in a hurry.

If I'd been camping in that blue tent when that TT went up, I'd have had to change my pants, that's for sure!

 

just to let everyone know this was my trailer tent and i am the man in question i am ok but i was not changing bottle with a lighter i was using a spanner but gas valve was jamed open after i closed valve, also it was the end of our stay and we were packing up, it was fridge i was taking out things are just about back to normal .we are still camping as a family but in a tent only i just hope no one has to deal with this sort of issue in the future our life as a family has changed so much since that day and also my outlook on life thats what you call a close shave without a razzor          

ps i sugest people get facts correct before posting a message next time

I thought all gas bottles and valves were checked before being refilled? How could something like this happen?

It looks horrendous. I'm glad to hear no-one was hurt.

Makes you think about distance between tents / pitches, eh? It also makes me wonder about open fires on campsites - surely an affilliated topic - I know lots of campers on these boards like them (and it seems to be something which is on the increase, don't you think?) but fire anywhere near canvas concerns me, and even more so after seeing those pics, which illustrate how vulnerable tents are.

I was on a site in Brittany this year and, when walking around, smelled woodsmoke. Some people had made a fire outside their caravan and it all looked a bit huge and alarming, with flames flaring up and sparks flying off in all directions. The smoke and the stink were ridiculous for a busy campsite and I was glad I was pitched on the other side of the site!

Sorry if this seems to be going off on a tangent. It seems that camping is a bit like driving; it's not always about how safe you are, but about everyone else. As someone else has said; if I'd have been in the blue tent I'd have been bricking it as well!

Open fires on campsites doesn't seem to be increasing to me, we always struggle to find sites that allow them, but quite happily allow bbq's

The open campfires are always a long way from the tents as none of us particluarly want our equipment ruining either.  It's more of a communal get together centre point

I can understand the cooking inside tents being an issue as the cookers open flames are right next to the canvas

The people I camp with are responsible enough to treat the open fires with respect, and 99% of the time it's contained in a fire pit anyway

Quote: Originally posted by Cadbury109 on 11/12/2010

---

just to let everyone know this was my trailer tent and i am the man in question i am ok but i was not changing bottle with a lighter i was using a spanner but gas valve was jamed open after i closed valve, also it was the end of our stay and we were packing up, it was fridge i was taking out things are just about back to normal .we are still camping as a family but in a tent only i just hope no one has to deal with this sort of issue in the future our life as a family has changed so much since that day and also my outlook on life thats what you call a close shave without a razzor          

ps i sugest people get facts correct before posting a message next time

---

I assume that you also read all the messages expressing support and concern as well, although I appreciate that having the incident discussed at much length in any public forum must be very difficult for you and your family. The pics are so shocking that I think they'll serve a purpose, and help to prevent fires and bring fire safety and common sense to the fore.

I really hope it hasn't put you off camping, and that you have made good recovery from your injuries. I hope you also find this forum of interest to you and get some use out of it in the future. We're not a bad bunch.

Quote: Originally posted by Cadbury109 on 11/12/2010

---

just to let everyone know this was my trailer tent and i am the man in question i am ok

---

Quote: Originally posted by andycwb on 13/12/2010.....................

---

I keep the gas bottles outside the tent but I confess I do cook inside the tent at times, if only to stay out of the cold or rain. I'd never anticipated something like a gas valve jamming, which would be kind of hard to control.   Food for thought, I think.

---

... and i cross roads every day... i am more likely to be run over by a bus to be honest.. i DO have a fire extinguisher.. it rolls round in the bottom of the boot of the car somewhere (but hey it came free with the car!) the fire service will only reccomend that you get out as quickly as possible, not fart ar$e about trying to undo fire blankets or extinguishers if you have never used one before... did you know that you should only attempt to tackle a fire if you have already practised with the equipment to hand?? how many of you have wasted a fire blanket or extinguisher on 'practising' to use it??

i have a woodburner in my tent, stood on a wooden hearth! it is fantastic.. burns logs and coal and heats tent up lovely.. even hot enough to cook on.. i have a fire bucket just outside door (too great a risk of drowning to leave it inside the tent!) but i only have this incase i burn myself or the kids... if the tent did go up, at least i have a bucket of water to start dousing any injuries before real help gets there (or i can get injury to tap)

i dont think that any of us are stupid enought to not realise that gas and naked flames are dangerous!!

enjoy cooking and camping and staying warm... thats why we all bought tents in the first place... and stop worrying about all eventualities and 'what ifs'.. they can ruin your life.. go with the flow and enjoy life!

That must have been terrifying experience for the family in question - hope you are all okay?

Someone raised the issue of festivals and the lack of space between tents and drinking. Not to mention drug-taking.  Now, whereas, it seems to be okay for a nearly bus aged female to have a very sharp cooking knife, it's not okay for sensible young people who don't go over the top.  Even sharp scissors are out of court. Two years ago, my son and his mate left the festival because others adjacent were drunk or drugged and disposal BBQs were being placed close to tents. They took their gear (admittedly not a lot), not tent, went to one of the security people and told them. Ignored; two tents burnt out and another damaged and a lot of minor injuries caused by panic. Both, although they'd left the site and gone home, had unpleasant interviews with the police - yet they'd reported the problem.

They were totally exhonerated and an apology given because they had done as per instructions and free tickets given for this year's event, which they accepted with thanks and auctioned to raise funds for a local charity. Neither will be going to a festival again. The distance rule is important and when you think how cheap "festival tents are...

The other issue is the prevention of being allowed to carry potentially offensive weapons. A sharp knife (or more lately, a seat belt cutter) is always in my tent so I can cut the material to get out if I have to.

The previous message posted was not by myself, and I have now learnt to make sure I am logged out of any message forums before letting others use my computer!!

The fire was a terrifying experience.  My children have obviously been the worst affected (age 6 and 9).  Luckily they weren't in the tent but unfortunately did see both myself and my husband running from the tent whilst it was on fire.  Anybody with children will understand that the biggest loss has been the childrens teddy bears.

Experiencing something like this made me realise why I go camping.  Everyone at the site was fantastic in making sure my children and I had everything we needed whilst my husband was rushed off to hospital.  I would like to thank everybody for their kindness and support.  I would particularly like to thank the many people who helped with my children while I sorted through what could be saved (which as you can see from the pictures wasn't alot).

We shall be returning to basic camping in 2011 (without a gas fridge!!!!)

Thank you :)

Good for you Cadbury. May I recomend a Trangia. I cook on nothing else. Very safe and definately basic.