Fire safety when camping & caravanning

Camping and caravanning are usually carried out in very enclosed spaces, typically tents & caravans and, more often than not, in close proximity to other campers and caravanners and in areas where activities such as barbecues, cooking with portable gas, children playing, pets running around, etc are taking place and that means there is a lot of potential for fire related accidents.

Careful consideration to fire safety should be given when camping and caravanning, both for your safety and the safety of others. Small incidents can quickly escalate out of control in small places and having appropriate fire extinguishers and other fire-fighting equipment at hand, such as a fire bucket and a fire blanket, to deal with any incident could quite easily help save someone's life.

The first thing that should be done on arrival at your chosen site is for you and everyone in your party to familiarise themselves as quickly as possible with any fire arrangements that are in place on the site. It's also a good idea to know where the nearest public telephone is situated. This is obviously more important if you do not have a mobile phone or, as is often the case in rural sites, you are in a location that has poor or non-existent mobile reception.

Some basic, common sense rules when camping and caravanning can help you avoid potentially life threatening situations.

Some basic, common sense rules when camping and caravanning can help you avoid potentially life threatening situations. Safety information is available on many camping and caravanning websites and are always worth reading in order to make your experience as safe and enjoyable as possible. We have listed below some tips and recommendations in relation to fire safety when camping and caravanning:

• Have a portable fire extinguisher with you. A 1kg Dry Powder or 2kg Dry Powder fire extinguisher is suitable for general camping & caravanning use.
• If in a caravan, fit a smoke detector
• Carry a fire bucket and keep it ready to use in an emergency
• Carry a fire blanket. These are especially effective when dealing with a cooking fire.
• Don't use candles. Use a torch.
• Don't leave matches or lighters where children can get at them.
• Never leave children alone in a caravan or tent.
• Store gas bottles and/or cannisters outside.
• If you smoke, don't smoke inside and make sure the cigarette/cigar is put out in a metal container, preferably with a little water in it to help extinguish it.
• Read campsite safety information
• MOST IMORTANT OF ALL – GET EVERYONE AWAY FROM THE FIRE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND CALL THE EMERGENCY SERVICES. SMALL FIRES MAY BE DEALT WITH PERSONALLY BEFORE THEY GET OUT OF CONTROL BUT NEVER PUT YOUR LIFE IN DANGER OR ANYONE ELSE'S. FIRSTLY, GET EVERYONE SAFE AND AWAY FROM DANGER AND ONLY THEN SHOULD YOU ATTEMPT TO DEAL WITH ANY FIRE. FIRES CAN QUICKLY SPREAD AND PARTICULARLY IN CONFINED AREAS THAT PRESENT THEMSELVES IN CARAVANNING AND CAMPING SITUATIONS.

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