Sobering Reminder on RVs and Fire

[Mike Ellis]

I ran across this burned-to-the-frame Rockwood motorhome yesterday near Ft. Worth. As you can see from the pictures, there wasn't much of anything left. I have seen other burned RVs, and they usually end up like this one. What is not apparent from the pictures is how FAST they go up.

We have discussed this on the board before, but it is always worth reminding folks in the RV community - know where your emergency exits are and how to use them, and make sure everyone in your RV knows also. In the event of a fire, don't waste time trying to gather valuables or fight the fire - GET OUT, IMMEDIATELY. Even a large RV has a relatively small interior volume, and it will fill up with smoke PDQ. If you grab your fire extinguisher and start squirting away, you're going to fill it up even more and breathing can quickly become difficult. There's nothing in there that's worth losing your life over except your family - #1 priority is get 'em out safe, get 'em away from the burning rig, and then count your blessings while waiting for insurance to work it out.

If this sounds overly cautious, contemplate the fact that a fire like this can consume an RV in a couple of minutes time. As the pictures show, there is no side or roof framing left at all, presumably aluminum which will sag and melt very fast in the event of fire - allowing the roof and walls to rapidly collapse. Not a good time to be inside, and not a good time to be running around by the outside walls screaming and cussing either. STAY AWAY FROM A BURNING RIG.

Also sobering is to look at the frame construction, particularly upfront. There is little or no crash protection in a rig like this, it's essentially a large crackerbox on wheels. You guys that have these huge Class A's and like to drive them 80 or 90 mph on the interstates need to take a close look at what's between your family and sudden death in the event of a rollover or collision. Be safe out there guys, when things go wrong they can go wrong fast....