RV.Net Open Roads Forum: Fifth-Wheels: How many fire extinguishers on-board?

RV Blog

  |  

RV Sales

  |  

Campgrounds

  |  

RV Parks

  |  

RV Club

  |  

RV Buyers Guide

  |  

Roadside Assistance

  |  

Extended Service Plan

  |  

RV Travel Assistance

  |  

RV Credit Card

  |  

RV Loans

Open Roads Forum Already a member? Login here.   If not, Register Today!  |  Help

Newest  |  Active  |  Popular  |  RVing FAQ Forum Rules  |  Forum Posting Help and Support  |  Contact  

Search:   Advanced Search

Search only in Fifth-Wheels

Open Roads Forum  >  Fifth-Wheels

 > How many fire extinguishers on-board?

Reply to Topic  |  Subscribe  |  Print Topic  |  Post New Topic  | 
Page of 6  
Prev  |  Next
Sponsored By:
pigman1

Delaware

Senior Member

Joined: 06/28/2004

View Profile


Offline
Posted: 09/13/13 05:40pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Let me tell you a little story about that "useless" extinguisher by the door.

We left San Antonio heading west in the wee hours of the AM (dark) and were in the hill country when I saw something very bright on the rear view camera at the rear of the RV. I immediately puled over and ran back to see what was going on. What I saw was flames 3 to 4 feet high both inside and outside the rear cap directly over the exhaust pipe. I ran to the front door (40' coach) and got the RV fire extinguisher, ran to the rear and hit the flames with it. The fire was immediately put out. As I looked further for the cause, I found that the rag I kept in the engine compartment for checking fluid levels had fallen from it's nitch where I usually kept it, onto the hot exhaust stack. Further looking found that there was NO damage. Even the paint was unscorched and no wires or anything else beside the rag was burned.

Obviously, I no longer kept an oily rag in the engine compartment, and got the extinguisher recharged later that day. Of course this was only possible because the "useless" extinguisher worked well.

How many folks out there do a monthly check on their extinguisher(s) and agitate the powder to keep it flowable? Without a regular check and shake up, the extinguisher will be useless. If you don't know how to do this check, stop at your local fire station and they'll be happy to show you. A couple of minutes a month is all you need and you can check to be sure the emergency escape windows are free and operate correctly at the same time.

And yes, we also carry 2 other extinguishers, a Purple K ABC large unit and a Carbon dioxide one.

They all work well if properly cared for and are used the way they should be.


Pigman & Piglady
2013 Tiffin Allegro Bus 43' QGP
2011 Chevy Silverado 1500
SMI Air Force One toad brake
Street Atlas USA Plus

reasley

Motherlode

Senior Member

Joined: 10/13/2011

View Profile



Good Sam RV Club Member

Offline
Posted: 09/13/13 06:38pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Old-Biscuit wrote:

reasley wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:

One

I fought fires on Oil Rigs, in the NAVY and power plants. Well head, generator house, engine room, fuel storage tank and 4KV Bus fires.

IF RV catches fire WE are running as far away from it as possible.
I refuse to try and fight a RV fire with any handheld extinguisher.

Insurance will replace.


I don't think your insurance company will replace the forest that burns along with your RV. Not at least attempting to put out a fire, if you have the means available, is an untenable position


Ever fought a fire?


Yup. It's a heck of a lot easier to put out a small vehicle fire than a forest fire. Simply walking (running) away makes the rest of us pay higher insurance rates.

tgreening

Ohio

Senior Member

Joined: 06/21/2010

View Profile



Good Sam RV Club Member

Offline
Posted: 09/13/13 09:46pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I have one. It's the last thing the family and I run past on the way out the doors. I would not under any circumstances try to fight any significant fire from the inside of that death trap. I have plenty of insurance, and everyone knows how to get out.

Oh, and forestry type vegetation be danged. It'll grow back, my wife and kids won't.


2008 Ford F-450 "Lil Beasty"
2011 Heartland 3950 "Big Beasty"
1970 DW Made in Japan "Big Bossy"
2005 DD Made in Ohio "Big Pain"
2007 DD Made in Ohio "Lil Pain"
2004 GR Bahzu the dog "Big Sissy"
2010 Weim Mobo the dog "Fast Spaz"

Swamp Man

Addis, Louisiana

Senior Member

Joined: 04/16/2006

View Profile



Good Sam RV Club Member

Offline
Posted: 09/13/13 09:53pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

One thing that I will say is that if you use the ABC extinguisher in the trailer, you can plan on purchasing all new electronics. The powder will destroy all electronics it comes in contact with. I use a sodium bicarbonate (BC rated) and pressurized water. After reading the posts here, I think that I will add the halon type in the refrigerator cabinet. An old time fire fighter told me that the first three minutes will make or break a fire. One thing that he also said was that once the fire was out, cool the area. Some materials will auto ignite if they are hot enough. Again depends on how comfortable you are with your equipment. One thing to do also is have your fire extinguisher inspected by a licensed company once a year.


Steve & Trudy Jackson
2018 Cyclone 4005
2016 Ford F-450 6.7 PSD
AirSafe 25K hitch

Old-Biscuit

Verde Valley

Senior Member

Joined: 06/20/2009

View Profile



Posted: 09/13/13 11:40pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

The image over my shoulder as I run away.......

[image]


Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31

ol Bombero-JC

USA

Senior Member

Joined: 06/24/2004

View Profile



Posted: 09/14/13 03:32am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Old-Biscuit wrote:

The image over my shoulder as I run away.......

[image]


First of all Biscuit, to answer your previous post on this thread,
"Ever fought a fire?"
Yeah. Actually "lots" over a 30 year career - all the 'stuff' you listed, add brush & haz-mat. Electrical was inside an Edison generating station (not a sub-station).
Ain't "Gee Whiz" and/or "What If?" - - great!.[emoticon]

Lots of interesting comments from the posters as well as yourself!
Big extinguishers, little extinguishers, ABC, AFFF, CO2, Dry Chem, 5lb, 10lb, smoke detectors, CO detectors, etc.

First things first.
Start with common sense - and listen to what Kenny Rogers has to say in "The Gambler":
You've got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
Know when to run......[emoticon]..[emoticon]

1. A smoke and CO detector is the best -*LIFE INSURANCE*- policy you can buy! - Two of each (or more) are even better!
Note: Inexpensive battery operated *inter-connected* (wireless) detectors are available. (Check Amazon)
One alarms - they *ALL* alarm!

Why the best Life Insurance policy? - *YOU* - will be the beneficiary!
Smoke and/or CO from an incipient or smoldering fire will kill you long before there's "visible" fire for you to "fight".

2. Know how to get out of your RV by the emergency exit?
Ever tried it? - Maybe even just a mental "dry run" - without actually going out through the designated emergency exit?

Just like your sticks and bricks - everybody out, call the Fire Department (campground = alert your neighbors also) then *maybe* - depending on the circumstances, location, your ability, the "tools" at hand.... you can go back to Kenny Rogers and "do your thing".

[emoticon] - ?? - Common sense and - "maybe"!
Every big fire - like Biscuit's pic- was (usually) at one time, a little fire..[emoticon]

Extinguishers.
I used to teach nurses and staff at a couple of hospitals how to use the dry chem (ABC) extinguishers in their buildings.
Wait until the annual extinguisher service was due. Service guy on site to refill extinguishers - which he had to do anyway.
Required "in service" training for the staff.
Yes - I would have a small flammable liquid fire (in the pk lot) for them to extinguish.

Why mention that?
Most of the staff needed a bit of practice to be "on target".
(And if a 100 lb nurse can be effective - so can you!)
You - your spouse and/or kids - can do the same (w/o the fire) by simply using your extinguisher when it's due to be replaced -or- with a refillable type (see below).

What's A-B-C
A = ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, etc.
B = flammable liquids.
C = Electrical

You will find that a ten pound dry-chem ABC extinguisher usually will have a 2A 10BC rating.
That's the *minimum* rating any/all of your dry chem extinguishers should have.
A smaller dry-chem (ex: 5BC) will still work on ordinary combustibles.

Dry chem extinguishers are cheap - but *very* messy.
CO2 = more expensive, not messy - no residue.
Smaller ones usually will *not* have an "A" rating. As above, the CO2 will still work on ordinary combustibles. (they simply don't have the capacity for the UL "A" rating)

Recommendation: Several types, as some posters stated.
Google "Mac The Fire Guy".
See his info - it's all *excellent*.

He's a good source for an easily refillable one gallon AFFF pressurized water extinguisher. (2 1/2 gal may be too heavy for most users - and take up a lot of space)
Before you add the AFFF - you can try it with "plain" water (and refill) as often as you wish.

Then enjoy Kenny!.[emoticon]


~

* This post was edited 09/14/13 04:15am by ol Bombero-JC *

ut_pupcamper

Utah

Senior Member

Joined: 02/09/2007

View Profile



Good Sam RV Club Member

Offline
Posted: 09/14/13 11:00am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Best reply I've ever read to any post yet on here. Lots of sage sound advice from an expert and very pertinent to the topic at hand. I've quoted it just to reiterate it. Thanks bombero

ol Bombero-JC wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:

The image over my shoulder as I run away.......

[image]


First of all Biscuit, to answer your previous post on this thread,
"Ever fought a fire?"
Yeah. Actually "lots" over a 30 year career - all the 'stuff' you listed, add brush & haz-mat. Electrical was inside an Edison generating station (not a sub-station).
Ain't "Gee Whiz" and/or "What If?" - - great!.[emoticon]

Lots of interesting comments from the posters as well as yourself!
Big extinguishers, little extinguishers, ABC, AFFF, CO2, Dry Chem, 5lb, 10lb, smoke detectors, CO detectors, etc.

First things first.
Start with common sense - and listen to what Kenny Rogers has to say in "The Gambler":
You've got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
Know when to run......[emoticon]..[emoticon]

1. A smoke and CO detector is the best -*LIFE INSURANCE*- policy you can buy! - Two of each (or more) are even better!
Note: Inexpensive battery operated *inter-connected* (wireless) detectors are available. (Check Amazon)
One alarms - they *ALL* alarm!

Why the best Life Insurance policy? - *YOU* - will be the beneficiary!
Smoke and/or CO from an incipient or smoldering fire will kill you long before there's "visible" fire for you to "fight".

2. Know how to get out of your RV by the emergency exit?
Ever tried it? - Maybe even just a mental "dry run" - without actually going out through the designated emergency exit?

Just like your sticks and bricks - everybody out, call the Fire Department (campground = alert your neighbors also) then *maybe* - depending on the circumstances, location, your ability, the "tools" at hand.... you can go back to Kenny Rogers and "do your thing".

[emoticon] - ?? - Common sense and - "maybe"!
Every big fire - like Biscuit's pic- was (usually) at one time, a little fire..[emoticon]

Extinguishers.
I used to teach nurses and staff at a couple of hospitals how to use the dry chem (ABC) extinguishers in their buildings.
Wait until the annual extinguisher service was due. Service guy on site to refill extinguishers - which he had to do anyway.
Required "in service" training for the staff.
Yes - I would have a small flammable liquid fire (in the pk lot) for them to extinguish.

Why mention that?
Most of the staff needed a bit of practice to be "on target".
(And if a 100 lb nurse can be effective - so can you!)
You - your spouse and/or kids - can do the same (w/o the fire) by simply using your extinguisher when it's due to be replaced -or- with a refillable type (see below).

What's A-B-C
A = ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, etc.
B = flammable liquids.
C = Electrical

You will find that a ten pound dry-chem ABC extinguisher usually will have a 2A 10BC rating.
That's the *minimum* rating any/all of your dry chem extinguishers should have.
A smaller dry-chem (ex: 5BC) will still work on ordinary combustibles.

Dry chem extinguishers are cheap - but *very* messy.
CO2 = more expensive, not messy - no residue.
Smaller ones usually will *not* have an "A" rating. As above, the CO2 will still work on ordinary combustibles. (they simply don't have the capacity for the UL "A" rating)

Recommendation: Several types, as some posters stated.
Google "Mac The Fire Guy".
See his info - it's all *excellent*.

He's a good source for an easily refillable one gallon AFFF pressurized water extinguisher. (2 1/2 gal may be too heavy for most users - and take up a lot of space)
Before you add the AFFF - you can try it with "plain" water (and refill) as often as you wish.

Then enjoy Kenny!.[emoticon]


~



Don & Alice

Camping in and around Utah
2013 Rockwood 8286WS Diamond Package 5th Wheel
2003 Ford F350 Lariat Super duty Crew Cab
6 kids 3 grand kids a dog a cat and Titan the killer Chiweenie ">

Camping in 2013: 15
Camping in 2012: 19

deleted-2

undisclosed

Senior Member

Joined: 04/15/2013

View Profile



Good Sam RV Club Member


Posted: 09/14/13 12:47pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Well there's 2 in the fifth wheel and now we have a Halon to carry in the truck.





turner66

Tx

New Member

Joined: 04/05/2013

View Profile


Offline
Posted: 09/14/13 10:14pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I have 3 smoke/CO detectors (1 in each of the main areas)and 6 extinguishers inside the RV (1 in garage, 1 in bunk above garage, 3 in kitchen/living area, and 1 in front bedroom). I also have 2 extinguishers in outside compartments. The extinguishers inside are mainly to allow occupants to get out if fire is blocking an exit route.


2012 F-450 Lariat FX4 CC DRW 6.7L
Firestone Ride-Rite airbags/ Air Lift WirelessAir
25k Pullrite OE Super 5th, TST 507RV TPMS
2008 KZ Inferno 4012SL Toy Hauler
TrailAir pinbox, Trailair Equa-Flex suspension


RoyB

King George, VA

Senior Member

Joined: 04/13/2008

View Profile



Good Sam RV Club Member


Posted: 09/15/13 02:29am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

We have the one that came with both trailer mounted by the entrance door.

I also carry one in my truck...

I like the idea of moving the smaller one by the door to the bedroom area and replacing it with a larger one by the entrance door.

Roy Ken


My Posts are IMHO based on my experiences - Words in CAPS does not mean I am shouting
Roy - Carolyn
RETIRED DOAF/DON/DOD/CONTR RADIO TECH (42yrs)
K9PHT (Since 1957) 146.52M
2010 F150, 5.4,3:73 Gears,SCab
2008 Starcraft 14RT EU2000i GEN
2005 Flagstaff 8528RESS


Reply to Topic  |  Subscribe  |  Print Topic  |  Post New Topic  | 
Page of 6  
Prev  |  Next

Open Roads Forum  >  Fifth-Wheels

 > How many fire extinguishers on-board?
Search:   Advanced Search

Search only in Fifth-Wheels


New posts No new posts
Closed, new posts Closed, no new posts
Moved, new posts Moved, no new posts

Adjust text size:




© 2023 CWI, Inc. © 2023 Good Sam Enterprises, LLC. All Rights Reserved.