RV Fire

why fridge on ??

Why frige on was my first thought. I turn mine off, whether motorhome or fifthwheel. Also, shut down the generator in the motorhome.

Same with filling up with gas if I have a motorhome. Shut it all down.

Sorry and sad situation.

so why was there such a big leak when filling the tank there has to be a lot of propane in the air to cause a explosion. sounds like the filler did not know what they were doing. they should shut off the propane tank output valve when filling also and always ask if all appliances are off. careless people always in a hurry

No comment

The filler is suppose to be trained to ask if there's anyone inside the RV, and if everything is turned off. And the owner should be smart enough to know that they shouldn't lie about it.

Obviously, someone broke one of these simple rules.

Must have been quite the old RV to have a fridge with a standing pilot light and even more to the point, there must have been a MASSIVE release of PP by the filler.

1. The refer had no pilot light. It had an Auto ignition system. That means the refer could be lit at anytime if calling for cold OR it could have cycled ON when they were filling
2. PROPER fill you ALWAYS turn the LP tank OFF. That means the LP filler and U Haul will be liable for all damages, not the RV family.
3. By ALWAYS turning the tank OFF prior to filling, ANY LP appliance that may be running will deplete the existing LP in the lines in about 30 seconds. Even if NO appliance was running and the tank OFF, and a Appliance came ON, it would deplete the LP in the lines in that same 30 seconds
4. The Filler (if he was trained correctly) would have made sure the LP system was OFF and that the interior appliances were in the OFF mode
5. Since LP is heavier than air, there must have been a massive amount of LP on the ground. Even with the 80 percent valve open during fill, the amount it would bleed off should have NOT be enough to get to an ignition source. While LP is heavier than air, if you have an excess amount, the surrounding wind and even walking around can easily whip it up higher to get to that ignition source. Doug

my question is why were 7 people still in the rv. That is number 1 rule everybody out 2make sure all electronics appliances off 3 make sure gas is off then start to fill

why fridge on ?? because it has been said on the forum too many time that it's OK to travel with it on. one of the dumbest things on the planet is to travel with it on because you are going to forget to turn it off when you fuel up. many RV people like the RV DR or the guy from rv education 101 tell you to turn it off. I have preached for years to turn it off and they still run with it on, it's a tough lesson for people who think it will never happen to them. I have been told to mind my own business by people on this forum and I don't know what I'm talking about. well, I have fought fires in RV's over my 30 years of service as firefighter, one was a brand new super C and it was toast when the fridge got done with it.