RV Fire Safety Tips and Advice 

Check out this link for the text version - www.loveyourrv.com/rv-fire-safety/

A couple of months ago, the propane detector in my full-time 5th wheel went off. I found that a propane tank I had filled on a very cold day, vented excess pressure soon after on an unusually warm day. Although the compartment the propane tanks are in is supposed to be sealed and vented outside, enough propane got into the living space to set off the detector. I ventilated the rig. Since the tanks are located below the bedroom in the basement, I bought a 120 volt combo carbon monoxide/propane detector and put it on the night stand by the bed for an earlier warning of a problem. A couple of weeks later, the new CO/propane detector went off in the middle of the night. I woke up feeling dizzy. The detector showed a very high level of CO even though no oxygen consuming appliances were on. I ventilated the rig again. After some Sherlock Holmes work, it turned out a bad battery was being over-charged and produced excessive hydrogen gas. Again, although the battery compartment is vented, too, enough of the hydrogen seeped into the bedroom to trigger the CO detector. A new pair of batteries were bought. I learned from Google that carbon monoxide detectors can be fooled by hydrogen gas. A good thing, too, since lack of oxygen from any cause can be fatal if it goes on undetected for long (such as when you are asleep). At last report, I am still alive!

Great tips, especially keeping a ladder outside of the bedroom emergency escape window. That’s something we never thought of and will now plan to do.

I bought an emergency escape ladder from Home Depot and keep it in the bedroom in our fifth wheel. I love the idea about several extinguishers throughout the rig too. Good video Ray... Thanks for posting it.

That's a great idea to set up your foldable ladder set up outside your escape window! My escape plan is similar for the sharp edges issue, but in our escape plan, I have a thick rope with knots. Great if you're physically fit, but we won't be capable forever.

Good video. Fires in RVs is the number one issue for destruction. I just added a couple of First Alert TUNDRA aerosol cans to kitchen and bedroom in our TT. They are 14oz cans that last 32 seconds. They are good for 3 years, so says the manufacturer. I also have a 10 lbs. ABC Badger extinguisher and a 2.5 lbs extinguisher that came with the rig. I like your baking soda boxes idea in the kitchen. I know however I will forget to put those out. So I bought a Fire Blanket that mounts in a quick release case on the wall. At my advanced ‘feels like’ age of 105 yrs. picking up a 10 lbs. fire extinguisher that weights lots more is no easy feat. So I would recommend getting two 5 lbs. ABC extinguishers that would allow easier handling. Remember, you can always practice your fire making skills in any major USA city ! No extinguisher required.

Another great and good sense video from Ray!! Of all the full time RVers I sub to, I don't remember any of them doing such a comprehensive vid on fire safety. Once again, your presentation is top notch! I hope you and Anne have a great summer. Cheers!

Great idea to keep RV fire safety in mind. Thanks for the reminder and suggestions

We always shut our fridge off when traveling. Not an issue. Good tips.

Hi Ray!! I watched this video last week, sent it to my husband, and then last Friday night we were taking out the trash walking by the camper, parked in our driveway, hearing this BEEP . . . hubby says, "I think it's coming from the camper" . . . so we go to investigate, sure enough! The propane detector was flashing and beeping . . . took it out, have a new one ordered and here already. Good tips! I know we need to go over our camper and just do a thorough check of everything. We won't be going out until Sept. Usually we have several trips in by this time of year, but with COVID we haven't gone anywhere. Luckily my husband and I got to go out in Feb. before all this started, and boy was it cold!!! It was 7* two nights in a row!! But we were fine, no problems. :O) But we sure are missing camping!! We were out as a family, I think it was the beginning of Dec. we are all looking forward to Sept. Thanks for sharing! I will be watching this one again! I think I will make a list too. ;o)

Great video Ray...I always find some tidbit in your content that makes me think and add to my list of to do's or my checklist

Thanks for the tips, Ray. I always keep a second water hose hooked up to the parks hydrant and coiled up under the nose of our 5er. Comes in handy if I need a close water supply to extinguish our campfire plus is ready in the event of an emergency at our rig or at neighbors.

Many thanks for this - I haven't seen these matters discussed very often in such a cohesive, all-around manner. I'm going to work up a checklist from this video.

Thanks Ray.

Thanks for a great video Ray. As always safe travels

Newmar offers a nice emergency exit door that opens up behind the toilet. It even has a built in ladder.

Great safety tips Ray. Looking forward to some drone footage on an upcoming video! Trust you and Anne are enjoying Campbell River area this summer.

Thank you Ray. Pretty good tips for fire prevention. Stay Safe and Stay Free

Great reminders Ray!!

Good advice, thanks.

Great tips Ray

Great advice again Ray. Be safe and enjoy.

Good info!

Thanks for the tips. I never realized the propane detector expired! I'm sure ours is original equipment. I never thought to check the fridge vents for nests. I see you removed your stove cover; good idea. Ours makes noise when we walk around in the Cougar and I would never use that space as a work surface anyway. I never understood why some RV manufactures put rails on the outside wall to attach grills/bbqs.

Great vid ray. Very informative replacing the LPG sensor and the CO sensor every 6 to 7 years is highly recommended. Steve.🇳🇿👍

at 5:59 great advice about the baking soda. I had a kitchen fire one time, not in my van, but in the sticks and bricks and I had no idea what to do. I couldn't think fast enough since I hadn't dealt with it before. So what did I do? I picked up the pan of burning grease and threw it out the back door, but not before I dropped it on the kitchen floor. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

Great tips. Wish more RVs would come with emergency exit doors. As a senior with limited flexibility, I don’t know it I could get out a small exit window.

Great tips especially the upper window . We do the same thing in our 5 th wheel . Currently a volunteer firefighter you don’t have but a few seconds to get out if there’s a fire . They all go pretty up quickly. Also keep clothes handy to put on if you need to gear out quickly . Have never practiced getting through that window on to a ladder but I,m pretty sure your adrenaline would kit in quickly .

Can’t have too many fire extinguishers. We have 3 large extinguishers. One in the kitchen, one by the door and one in the bedroom.

Thanks for doing this. Good info. On a side note, my 2012 Cougar's gas detector just sounded the "expired" alarm this winter. It lasted over the 7 year mark (I didn't even know they expired) before giving up. The replacement was easy (I might have watched your video on this?) and inexpensive. A couple of months later the carbon monoxide detector cried "foul" and needed batteries replaced. I need to set up a schedule like yours and just do all of the detectors at once. On my list of things to do... Cheers!

Ray, thanks for the tips. Just wondering which propane fire pit you were referring to. We leave Sat for 9 nights at a Golden Co. campground. No wood fires! Please send Email response if possible.

:-)))) :-))))

Great reminders Ray!!!