Tucson: DP up in flames

mtofell1 wrote:
When you consider how many RVs are rolling down the road at any given time, the lack of maintenance for many, and the lack of training/experience of the folks operating them, it's totally amazing there aren't more fires and other problems.

Same thing with stick built houses - when I see a house fire I'm not surprised. I'm surprised there aren't more given the condition many of them are in.

Ahhhh - so how do you know -or estimate- the number of RVs rolling down the road that are "lacking maintenance"??..:h

Maybe you could furnish a percentage, since you are "in the know".

"Same thing with stick and brick houses........"

The stick & brick houses:
Firefighter for 30 years. Unless something is really,really run down,
the fires I responded to in a major city (in CA) represented all levels of society, with residents who were owners and/or renters - as well as newer and older homes, some (before the fire) in pristine condition, some not.

As to the number of RV fires....
Those 30 years were also spent responding to vehicle fires on one of the busiest freeways (by traffic volume) in the US.
Lots of cars and pickups, and an HDT w/gasoline tanker - but not one RV fire.
(One un-occupied Class A MH parked on a city street)

Of course - maybe the guys on the other shift got all the freeway RV fires - but F/Fs like to hear about what their opposites did on the previous shift. Likewise F/Fs usually own RVs and that would be a hot (no pun intended) topic!
Can't recall anything in the two major newspapers regarding RV fires handled by adjoining agencies.

Doesn't mean they don't happen - but it's just *not* a frequent event.

Investigations.
Never knew of the CHP, city or county LEOs investigating *fires*.
Yes, accidents and loss of life incidents on their roadways - but not fires.
Unless something has changed sine I retired, *FIRE* agencies are required to file incident reports, pursuant to federal regs for same. Some states/counties/cities have more extensive reporting and documentation above the required fed levels.
Fire incident reporting lists the cause, origin, etc.

Although, if well involved (by the fire), cause & origin of vehicle fires may sometimes be difficult to determine due to the level of destruction.

Not counting attorneys representing accident victims, I have NEVER, EVER been contacted by an insurance investigator regarding a vehicle fire - regardless of the cause. (even suspicious fires).

Slightly off topic:
Mobile Home fires. Several over those 30 years.
Think of them as "permanently parked RVs".
The fire and building codes which apply to S&B homes don't apply,
and consequently incipient fires rapidly turn into major fires usually resulting in total "write-offs" - - which lead to the next....

Soap box:
Make sure you have *working* smoke, CO, and propane detectors.
Plan how you will get out if you have a fire - especially when sleeping.
Extinguishers are secondary to the above - and useful for incipient fires. Also - Mac the FireGuy dispenses great advice.


:W