FIRE SAFETY
As reported in MotorHome magazine, there are more than 12,500 reported RV fires annually. Of those, 50 percent result in total loss. Add to this an estimated 20,000 unreported fires, and motorhomes account for about 80 percent of all RV fires.

According to the above report, the single greatest cause of RV fire is 12-volt DC wiring. Short Circuits in systems are responsible for more than 35 percent of all fires. 46 percent of fires from this cause are successfully put out.

Some 85 percent of the materials in a typical coach are highly combustible. Add engine fuel, transmission fluid, propane and batteries, and you have potential for a traveling inferno. Fire can be started by the drivetrain, a malfunctioning electrical system, a faulty brake system, appliances or a chemical reaction. In our case, the fire was caused by the friction of wires under the dash rubbing against metal.

We have always had a Disaster Plan to evacuate dogs and people from our vehicle and home in an emergency. We load for shows with this in mind, drive with this in mind, set up at shows with this in mind, and never take our ability to safely care for our dogs for granted.

Our story: We were en route from shows in Houston, Texas to shows in Greenville, SC. PW, who has always been a very alert driver, looked down to see the gauges had stopped working. Within FIVE MINUTES from that moment, the coach was in flames, and within TWO ADDITIONAL MINUTES, the coach was a total loss! We know this timing is correct, as I was on the phone with a friend when PW saw we had a problem, and the 911 call was placed five minutes later, after we had evacuated the coach.

Thanks to a well rehearsed Disaster Plan, we were able to evacuate 12 dogs, 3 people and 1 bird, along with emergency dog supplies within the 5 minutes it took the coach to erupt in flames. This was such a quick, hot fire - you cannot fathom the intensity and speed with which our coach burned. We encourage you to have a Disaster Plan for your home, your vehicle and your setup at shows.

It goes without saying that you should follow a strict preventive maintenance schedule with your vehicle. Check for loose cables, leaks, loose or rusted exhaust hangers, etc.

Routinely test your smoke detectors (dual-sensor type is best). Have one located in the bedroom and one near the kitchen.

Install temperature sensors in engine and AC generator compartments to monitor these danger zones.

Consider installing an automatic or manually operated extinguishing system, such as the PMS Hawk Super “B” on-board fire safety system. These can protect engine, transmission, AC generator and wheelwell areas, where access can be difficult.

Locate a safety hammer on the wall next to non-opening windows to break glass for an alternate escape route when needed.

Wear enclosed shoes - sandals can impede the safe evacuation of your dogs.

Many people allow their dogs to roam free in a vehicle while traveling, and most canine fatalities in an accident occur to those dogs traveling loose. A crate offers a “seat belt” for your dog, and allows you to safely and quickly evacuate it in case of emergency. Always load your dogs with a "Straight Shot" to the nearest exit. We had a side entrance on our motor home (rather than the front, bus type entrance) and loaded dogs directly across in the dinette section and just to the right of the door next to the chair. Secure your dogs for travel (we used bungies) but in such a way that you can quickly get the crates out. In the case of large dogs, travel with leads attached to each crate door so that you can hand dogs to the outside person on lead. Hanging all your leads in one place takes away life-giving seconds to the process of getting your dogs out of the vehicle. Test the time it takes you to do this and see if you can't evacuate the doge more quickly by having attached the lead to the door of the crate by the noose end, ready to just slip over the dog's head.
Keep emergency dog supplies near the exit - bottled water, weather protection - to take care of the dogs on the side of the road until you can transport them. You can buy dog food and feeding containers after you get settled in temporary shelter.
Keep important papers, purses, etc. either right beside you or near the exit, easily accessible.
Keep a fully charged cell phone on your person to be able to call for emergency assistance.
Keep fully charged fire extinguishers at the front, middle and rear of the coach (one thing we did learn from this is that the typical small fire extinguisher they put in a coach is completely useless - it's too small and doesn't allow you to get far enough away from the fire to be useful - the sheriff's extinguisher was twice the size of the typical RV extinguisher and wasn't enough to deter the fire. You should also go to a fire station and have them teach you how to use an extinguisher. There are different classes of extinguishers, and using the wrong extinguisher in a fire can actually make the flames spread. Take your RV or other show vehicle with you to the fire station and request them to advise the quantity and type of extinguishers you should carry. Experts say fires usually double in size every 30 seconds. You should keep an appropriate extinguisher near the driver's seat, in the bedroom, near the kitchen and near the outside door of your RV. Ask your fire department to instruct you on a maintenance schedule for your extinguishers.
If you don't already have a Battery Disconnect switch, it's easy to have one installed on your vehicle. If you do have a switch, know where it is on your motor home If you realize you have an electrical problem, engage this switch as soon as you pull over.
Consider keeping your propane tank turned off while driving (quite often fires in RV's are started at the propane tank while driving). Propane generators are becoming more popular, but it does present additional fire risk.
As a driver, BE ALERT! Watch your gauges, and the instant you realize something feels or looks odd, if you sense ANYTHING different about your coach, don't keep driving to see if it will correct itself or try to figure it out - STOP INSTANTLY, and if you smell anything unusual, FOLLOW THE PLAN - GET YOURSELVES AND THE DOGS OUT.

When you park your RV, be certain you can evacuate the RV quickly should it become necessary. Observe how closely you are parked to the neighboring rig and be conscious of a route to safety.
Drill: We'll use two people for the exercise, but be able to modify the plan quickly if additional people are available:
Turn off the engine, put the rig in Park, and engage the battery disconnect switch.
Turn off the generator.
One person steps outside the door.
One person remains inside the coach and starts handing out dogs in crates to the outside person, who just puts them on the ground to get them outside the coach.
When the last dog is outside the coach, hand out emergency supplies:
Bottled water
Weather protection: patio rug, sunscreen, according to the season - this also serves as additional protection for the dogs if the rig explodes
Purses, important papers
Start moving the dogs away from the coach, leaving the weather protection over the ones closest to the coach as you progress. In our case, we had 12 dogs that we progressively moved away from the coach to a safe distance. You need at least 1200 feet between you and your dogs and the coach to protect against the potential for explosion. Call 911 for emergency assistance, and always be alert as to your location so that you may accurately direct emergency personnel.
ALWAYS evacuate before you try to extinguish a fire - believe me, the fire in a vehicle or coach is too quick, too hot. At best we would have lost our dogs had we tried to stop the fire before getting our dogs out.
Have a check list for all of the above and practice quick evacuation so that you don't have to think at the time, you just "follow the plan".