FIRE!

by Donna B. Yeaw

Last time we talked about some of the fire basics: how fires start, types of fire extinguishers, how extinguishers are rated and how to use them. This time we'll go a little further and talk about how many fire extinguishers we should have, where they should be placed, when to fight vs. when to leave and more.

Fight versus Flight

1. The fire is spreading rapidly.
2. You don't have adequate or appropriate equipment.
3. You must expose yourself to large amounts of smoke or extreme heat.
4. You have any doubts concerning your ability to fight the fire.
5. The fire is blocking your exit.

Extinguishers are meant to used during the initial stage of a fire. If the fire is spreading you should leave immediately. This is doubly important in an RV because there is much less reaction time than there would be in a building. Don't waste any time making a decision. Get out - your lives are more important than your possessions.

How many & where do they go?

Well you're partially correct. Experts actually recommend having four to five fire extinguishers in your RV!

"Why would I ever need that many? And even if I did where would I possibly put them?"

The first one is where you thought, right by the door. But what happens if you are at the other end of the RV and can't get to the fire extinguisher? That's part of the reason for multiples. Here are the recommendations.

• In the bedroom
• In the kitchen
• By the front door
• In an outside, unlocked storage compartment (preferably on the curb side)
• If you have a tow or towed vehicle, the 5th one goes here

The best extinguisher for the job

So, be sure you have more than one extinguisher of the proper class with adequate capacity to extinguish a fire larger than a few inches. Whether you purchase a disposable or a rechargeable model depends on your habits, how much you want to spend and how conscientious you will be about maintenance.

Care & feeding of your fire extinguisher

You need to inspect your fire extinguishers at least monthly. There are a few basic things to check.

• Be sure the nozzle and/or hose is unobstructed.
• Check the plastic seal holding the pin in the extinguisher handle. Be sure it hasn't been tampered with or used before.
• Look for any exterior corrosion or dents.
• Check the weight, does it feel too light? It may have a leak!
• Inspect pressure gauge, the indicator should be within the green sector band on the gauge.

If indicator is in recharge area, get the unit recharged immediately. Also, if you use the extinguisher, even partially, it needs to be recharged or replaced. DO NOT think you have an effective extinguisher if you ignore this!

One more monthly maintenance item. If any of your extinguishers are the dry chemical type, you need to shake them. The powder in these dry chemical units have a tendency to settle and will become unusable - not a good thing!

What else should I know?

Tired of the smoke alarm going off when you cook or make toast? Cover it with a small plastic sandwich bag or shower cap, just remember to take it off when you're done. If you're in the market for a new smoke alarm, look for one with a temporary override. This will allow you to temporarily turn off alarm while cooking.

Find your escape window and know how to operate it. It's a good idea to test opening the window but don't do this if the window is the type with a zip-like or string opening. These have to be replaced by a dealer!

Open a window or vent before lighting any propane units inside your RV. Turn off your propane appliances when refueling. If you smell gas, extinguish all open flames (pilot lights, lamps, smoking materials, etc.), shut off the gas supply, open doors and leave the unit until the odor is gone. Have the system checked before you use it again.

If you smell ammonia in the area of your refrigerator, turn it off and either get it serviced or replaced. RV refrigerators are cooled by ammonia and hydrogen. If anything is blocking the vent an explosion can easily occur.

These are your keys to preventing and surviving fires wherever they occur.

This is the end of the two part series on Fire Safety. I hope you have learned something that you'll never need to use. Fire can destroy our homes, but it doesn't have to destroy us. Be fire smart, pass along your knowledge to others and stay safe. Until next time, keep on rolling!