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FIRE AND SAFETY
The hazard and possibility of fire exists in all
areas of life, and the recreational lifestyle is no
exception. Your trailer is a complex device
made up of many materials - some of them
flammable. But like most hazards, the
possibility of fire can be virtually eliminated by
recognizing the danger and practicing common
sense safety and maintenance habits.
Recreational vehicle fires are generally caused
by unattended food cooking on the stove or in
the oven, faulty or damaged wiring and
electrical devices, fuel leaks (both gasoline and
propane), or carelessness.
The most common careless acts include
smoking in bed, leaving children unattended
and cleaning with flammable liquids.
Consider These Fire Safety Suggestions:
Before refueling your truck or any fuel tank in
the vicinity of your RV, be sure to turn off all
pilots and appliances in your trailer. Consider
the cause and severity of the fire and the risk
involved before trying to put it out. If the fire is
major or is fed by gasoline, propane or any type
of oil product, stand clear of the vehicle and
wait for the fire department or other emergency
assistance.
If your RV is damaged by fire, do not use it
until it has been thoroughly examined and
the cause of the fire is found and fixed.
All occupants of the trailer should become
familiar with the audible sound of the smoke,
propane leak and CO detectors. If an alarm
sounds, investigate the cause. Do not remove
the detector in an attempt to silence the alarm.
Teach everyone in the RV how to use the entry
door locking system and emergency exits.
Occasionally open the emergency exit to
prevent the seal from sticking. Always keep the
dead bolt on the entry door in working
condition.
FIRE EXTINGUISHER
The fire extinguisher in your trailer is located
near the main entry door. Your fire extinguisher
should be replaced immediately after use or
discharge. The fire extinguisher furnished with
your camper is rated for Class B (gasoline,
grease, flammable liquids) and Class C
(electrical) fires since these are the most
common types of fires in recreational vehicles.
Read the instructions on the fire extinguisher.
Know how and when to use it. You and your
family should be familiar with its operation. If
you find it necessary to use the fire
extinguisher, stand 45 degrees from the flame
and spray side to side, starting at the top of the
flame. Use caution to avoid standing upwind or
uphill. If flames are climbing, spray vertical and
work the retardant downwards. Dry chemical
flame retardant should be cleaned away as soon
as possible.
SMOKE DETECTOR
Most fire casualties are caused by inhalation of
toxic fumes (smoke) from a fire and not by
flame. The smoke detector responds to smoke
that enters the sensing chamber. It does not
sense gas, heat or flame. A ceiling mounted,
battery powered smoke detector is located in the
living /cooking area of your RV. Please read the
smoke detector Owner’s Manual for details on
testing and caring for this important safety
device. Test the smoke detector after the RV has
been in storage, before each trip, and at least
once a week during use. The smoke detector
should never be disabled due to nuisance or
false alarm from cooking smoke, a dusty
furnace, etc. Ventilate your trailer with fresh air
and the alarm will turn off. Do not disconnect
the battery. Replace the battery once a year or
immediately when the low battery “beep”
signal sounds once a minute. The detector uses
a standard 9-volt battery. Test smoke detector
operation after replacing the battery. If the
smoke detector fails to operate with a new
battery, replace the detector with a new unit.
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