The other night our neighbor and wife were watching TV with the electric fireplace on. All of a sudden flames shot out from behind the TV ( fireplace is below the TV). He ripped the TV off the wall and grabbed the fire extinguisher. It didn't work. He was able to put it out with water before it spread. While checking out the damage he found that it was the remote control unit for the fireplace that had caught on fire. After telling our group of the problem at morning coffee one guy went back to check his remote control . He found that where the fireplace plugged into the remote control had melted the wires and fused the plug right to the box. He cut the plug off, replaced it and is still using the fireplace minus the remote.If any of you folks have a remote control for your fireplace please check it.

Unfortunate situation, Happy that occupants are OK, Sorry for their experience.I hope that they will notify both the RV manufacturer and the fireplace manufacturer of the problem.Posting provides 2 warnings for ALL:1. Check your electric fireplace for same conditions.2. Check your extinguishers on a regular basis. Pressure is important, but if the powder has had a chance to compact it will not help you when you need it. Need to keep it Loose and powdery like your flour.

From reading your post it sounds like this started as an electrical fire (Class C). It then went to a wood fire (Class A). Water is fine for the wood fire, but if there is still power to that receptacle and you throw regular water on it there is a chance of being shocked. Just something to think about. As said earlier regular maintenance on the extinguisher would of prevented the water being involved. I also am glad that everyone was OK. JMO

Listen up folks...I bought a 2004 Cedar Creek used about two (2)years ago. The remote didn't work correctly. It did one and not the other seems that it'd turn on the fireplace but wouldn't turn it off. I had to manually turn it off. Anyway mine is below the TV and is made by Dimplex. I believe that's the correct spelling, I'm not close to the camper at this time. When I called the Dimplex folks they informed me that there was a recall on the remote and the part that plugged n the 110v outlet. They even asked if it looked like it had been hot. My didn't it was just one function of the remote but they sent me a new module to plug into the wall and a new remote and I didn't need to send the old stuff back just tossed it. And all was at no cost to me.

BTPO1 wrote:From reading your post it sounds like this started as an electrical fire (Class C). It then went to a wood fire (Class A). Water is fine for the wood fire, but if there is still power to that receptacle and you throw regular water on it there is a chance of being shocked. Just something to think about. As said earlier regular maintenance on the extinguisher would of prevented the water being involved. I also am glad that everyone was OK. JMOWater is also not the proper choice for grease fires I believe; but its the first (and sometimes only) thing people turn to when faced with fire.I think I would use it if faced with a similar situation and no extinguisher. (I have 3 however so I think I could get one going if had time.)

Brodie3Az wrote:Unfortunate situation, Happy that occupants are OK, Sorry for their experience.I hope that they will notify both the RV manufacturer and the fireplace manufacturer of the problem.Posting provides 2 warnings for ALL:1. Check your electric fireplace for same conditions.2. Check your extinguishers on a regular basis. Pressure is important, but if the powder has had a chance to compact it will not help you when you need it. Need to keep it Loose and powdery like your flour.At least every year, take your fire extinguishers out of their brackets turn them upside down and hit the bottom of the extinguisher with your hand several times! This loosens up any powder that has settled to the bottom. Then check the gage, which should be in the "green", if not time to replace with a new one. Powdered extinguishers make a mess, and be ready take careful aim before squizing the trigger. They last only seconds and if you miss you will not have anything to put out the fire!

Extremely Close Call | Good Sam Community

Brodie3Az
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015
Unfortunate situation, Happy that occupants are OK, Sorry for their experience.

I hope that they will notify both the RV manufacturer and the fireplace manufacturer of the problem.

Posting provides 2 warnings for ALL:
1. Check your electric fireplace for same conditions.
2. Check your extinguishers on a regular basis. Pressure is important, but if the powder has had a chance to compact it will not help you when you need it. Need to keep it Loose and powdery like your flour.
BTPO1
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015
From reading your post it sounds like this started as an electrical fire (Class C). It then went to a wood fire (Class A). Water is fine for the wood fire, but if there is still power to that receptacle and you throw regular water on it there is a chance of being shocked. Just something to think about. As said earlier regular maintenance on the extinguisher would of prevented the water being involved. I also am glad that everyone was OK. JMO
Gary_Blackburn
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015
Listen up folks...

I bought a 2004 Cedar Creek used about two (2)years ago. The remote didn't work correctly. It did one and not the other seems that it'd turn on the fireplace but wouldn't turn it off. I had to manually turn it off. Anyway mine is below the TV and is made by Dimplex. I believe that's the correct spelling, I'm not close to the camper at this time. When I called the Dimplex folks they informed me that there was a recall on the remote and the part that plugged n the 110v outlet. They even asked if it looked like it had been hot. My didn't it was just one function of the remote but they sent me a new module to plug into the wall and a new remote and I didn't need to send the old stuff back just tossed it. And all was at no cost to me.
v10superduty
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015
BTPO1 wrote:
From reading your post it sounds like this started as an electrical fire (Class C). It then went to a wood fire (Class A). Water is fine for the wood fire, but if there is still power to that receptacle and you throw regular water on it there is a chance of being shocked. Just something to think about. As said earlier regular maintenance on the extinguisher would of prevented the water being involved. I also am glad that everyone was OK. JMO

Water is also not the proper choice for grease fires I believe; but its the first (and sometimes only) thing people turn to when faced with fire.
I think I would use it if faced with a similar situation and no extinguisher. (I have 3 however so I think I could get one going if had time.)
Coach-man
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015
Brodie3Az wrote:
Unfortunate situation, Happy that occupants are OK, Sorry for their experience.

I hope that they will notify both the RV manufacturer and the fireplace manufacturer of the problem.

Posting provides 2 warnings for ALL:
1. Check your electric fireplace for same conditions.
2. Check your extinguishers on a regular basis. Pressure is important, but if the powder has had a chance to compact it will not help you when you need it. Need to keep it Loose and powdery like your flour.

At least every year, take your fire extinguishers out of their brackets turn them upside down and hit the bottom of the extinguisher with your hand several times! This loosens up any powder that has settled to the bottom. Then check the gage, which should be in the "green", if not time to replace with a new one. Powdered extinguishers make a mess, and be ready take careful aim before squizing the trigger. They last only seconds and if you miss you will not have anything to put out the fire!
RustyJC
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015
Thanks for the heads-up. I never use the remote (always set the toggle switch on the far left on I, not II) but run the fireplace manually. I wonder if this problem only crops up when running the fireplace in the II (remote) setting, or if the remote module is "hot" (electrically) when in manual mode? That would be nice to know....

Rusty
bad99ram
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015
He used water due to no other choice. If the fire had got behind the wall the camper would have been totaled. Go to you tube and do a search for 5th wheel fire. There is a video of a unit pulling into either Cabelas or Bass Pro Shop. In 6 min it was down to the frame.
YC_1
Nomad
Jan 24, 2015
Nice to know about the recall. Mine too failed. Fortunately no fire involved. I could smell the issue from 40 yrs as an electronic tech replacing burned components.
Cool_Canuck
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015
I replaced mine under the recall. The new one has an over heat fuse in it. It died within a few months. Too many remotes anyway.
aruba5er
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015
Water is not that GOOD of a conductor and to get a shock you would have to be grounded. Do you stand on metal flooring or concrete, then worry a little. Carpet or vinal, Forget it. Better use water than loose the whole rig.