Staying Fire-Free in Your RV

With the hot weather and the dryness of the landscape, wildfires are inevitable. Keeping your family safe from the destructiveness of these terrible tragedies is not always the first thing you think of when preparing the RV for a weeklong vacation, but fire preparedness should always be on the list of things you do before heading out with the family. With some small changes and careful planning, you can save your family the heartache and devastation that fires cause.

Common Causes
Before we start to plan how to avoid and survive all fire conditions, let’s talk about the main causes of wildfires. Rather they start in an RV/Trailer or in woods surrounding your campground; you need to be aware of the most common causes of RV fires. Fuel line leaks in gasoline or diesel engines are a tremendous hazard and can usually be detected with a visual inspection. These lines need to be checked regularly, especially if heading out on a long trip. Electrical shorts and refrigerator issues can cause fires as well. Be sure to have your electrical system and refrigerators serviced at least once a year to avoid issues. Another common cause of fire is allowing your wheel bearings to go dry when driving a trailer. The bearings should be checked and repacked regularly depending on your usage and amount of travel. Once you have arrived at your location safely, pay close attention to operation of your appliances and always monitor closely any and all campfires and barbeques.

Have a Plan
All coaches come equipped with smoke detectors and fire extinguishers for the occupant’s safety. However, to be sure of your safety and those of your passengers you need to have an escape plan. Your escape plan should not only include the best way to get out of your coach if a fire breaks out inside, but also an escape route from them RV park you are staying at. Every campground should have a disaster plan that you can request information on when you check into your camping space. Depending on what types of roads you travel to get in and out of the campground, you may want to think even bigger in terms of escape strategy if a wildfire were to breakout in the surrounding area. There is never too much planning when it comes to fire safety. Be prepared and be familiar with your surroundings and keep yourself and your family safe.

Prevention is the Best Protection
When camping, keep reminding yourself that prevention is the best form of protection. Take all the fire warnings seriously and follow all of the campground’s guidelines when it comes to safe use of barbeques and fire pits. Inside your coach, all the same rules apply for fire safety as they do in your home. Be safe and remember to make sure all of your detectors have working batteries. Change the batteries as suggested by the manufacturer. One big thing to remember is unlike a home, your coach usually has one main route of exit. Keep a fire extinguisher in the front and back of your coach in case your escape route has caught fire.
Fire season is a scary time of year in many states. When camping with your family, have a good understanding of the campground and the surrounding areas in case the need arises for you to escape a fire zone. Have the necessary safety equipment on board your coach and test it often to be sure it will work if disaster strikes. Like Smokey the Bear says “Only you can prevent forest fires” and only you can be sure to get your family to safety if need be. Stay alert and pay attention out there. Happy Trails!