Do you have an emergency evacuation plan?

[JimOIB]

This is meant to be a public service announcement.

I want to stress how important it is to have an emergency evacuation plan when you are out in your RV. We have one and had the unfortunate opportunity to use it at 2 AM Sunday morning. Please…knowing how to escape the RV is one thing but having a plan as to what to do is another.

We were woken up Sunday morning to a loud pop in the coach and the loss of AC power. It sounded like a transformer outside had blown up. We looked around and the fridge switched to DC/propane and were perplexed. Then the LP/CO detector went off and we smelled electrical. Then there was smoke coming from under the bed and the smoke detector started - we looked at each other and said GET OUT. The plan we have is for the wife to grab the cat and throw her in the laundry bin and exit, I’m to exit and turn power off at the pedestal and close the propane tank. The plan worked flawlessly - we were both outside in our PJs with the cat.

I went back in the coach after grabbing the fire extinguisher to assess whether there was something I could do. We weren’t on fire so I turned on the bathroom fan to evacuate the smoke. After 30 minutes we ventured back inside to find that the ATS had fried. We still had DC power. After about an hour we decided to pack up and head for home. DC got the slide in and jacks up and we took the short drive home at 3:30 AM.

For anyone camping at Fort Mcallister Sunday night hearing alarms and commotion on Possum Trot near campsite 50 - that was us. I apologize for all the noise.

Bottom line: If you don’t have an evacuation plan then you should make one. Be safe.

Jim Hill

[Bob Denman]

Glad that your plan worked, and everything worked out reasonably well!

[Edensob]

I've had the converter capacitors blow on my unit and it does make quite a stinky smoke cloud, so I know what it is like. Glad all are safe and you made it home without further incident.

[Grumpy Grampa]

Sorry to hear your story. Great plan. I need one and will put one in place.

Thank you

[Bob Denman]

Does your plan include alternate egress protocols?

[The Gritz Carlton]

I've asked several friends/fellow campers..."do you know exactly how to open your emergency escape windows (most every camper has 2, 1 in front and another in rear) in the event of a totally blacked out escape you may need to make through them or if your door wont open and you're on fire?" No one knew but they immediately looked into it. The knowledge and ability to act in total darkness is vital and these windows can stick shut if not operated once every few months or so.

[RVRaidermike]

Originally Posted by jimbo12

This is meant to be a public service announcement.



I want to stress how important it is to have an emergency evacuation plan when you are out in your RV. We have one and had the unfortunate opportunity to use it at 2 AM Sunday morning. Please…knowing how to escape the RV is one thing but having a plan as to what to do is another.



We were woken up Sunday morning to a loud pop in the coach and the loss of AC power. It sounded like a transformer outside had blown up. We looked around and the fridge switched to DC/propane and were perplexed. Then the LP/CO detector went off and we smelled electrical. Then there was smoke coming from under the bed and the smoke detector started - we looked at each other and said GET OUT. The plan we have is for the wife to grab the cat and throw her in the laundry bin and exit, I’m to exit and turn power off at the pedestal and close the propane tank. The plan worked flawlessly - we were both outside in our PJs with the cat.



I went back in the coach after grabbing the fire extinguisher to assess whether there was something I could do. We weren’t on fire so I turned on the bathroom fan to evacuate the smoke. After 30 minutes we ventured back inside to find that the ATS had fried. We still had DC power. After about an hour we decided to pack up and head for home. DC got the slide in and jacks up and we took the short drive home at 3:30 AM.



For anyone camping at Fort Mcallister Sunday night hearing alarms and commotion on Possum Trot near campsite 50 - that was us. I apologize for all the noise.



Bottom line: If you don’t have an evacuation plan then you should make one. Be safe.



Jim Hill

Wow...glad everyone is ok, and I agree it's a great idea to have a run-through of evacuation procedures.

[Hooligan2]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

I've asked several friends/fellow campers..."do you know exactly how to open your emergency escape windows (most every camper has 2, 1 in front and another in rear) in the event of a totally blacked out escape you may need to make through them or if your door wont open and you're on fire?" No one knew but they immediately looked into it. The knowledge and ability to act in total darkness is vital and these windows can stick shut if not operated once every few months or so.

Good info-- Check which type window you have, some hinge at the top and lift up, others lift up a short distance and release, falling to the ground. Know how to open but be ready to catch the window. Open occasionally or they will stick.

[lwmcguire]

Both of our bathroom windows open with a lever type latch

Everyone should have an escape plan

Good point

[OldWEB]

Originally Posted by lwmcguire

Both of our bathroom windows open with a lever type latch

Everyone should have an escape plan

Good point

How large is yer bathroom????

[Grumpy Grampa]

Has anyone thought about adding a smoke alarm, either under the bed were all the wiring and electrical is, or on the outside bed frame. Instead of wait until smoke reaches the ceiling to set off the ceiling alarm?

Thoughts

[lwmcguire]

Originally Posted by OldWEB

How large is yer bathroom????

Certainly big enough to easily crawl/jump out a window

Window openings are 28 inches wide when you flip them up.

[OldWEB]

Originally Posted by lwmcguire

Certainly big enough to easily crawl/jump out a window

Window openings are 28 inches wide when you flip them up.

So you must have two biffys... I have one wee one, no window, just skylight, the room is big enough to take one idea into, cause it ain't big enough to change you mind while inside.

[Grumpy Grampa]

Any thoughts to post 11.

[happy]

I think we will place several smoke alarms in the camper.
Can't possibly hurt.

Also, there have been posts about escape windows not having a hing, just falling out by design. So be careful if testing them.

[MLP]

If anyone has been to a fire demo for RV's, once flames are present the fire consumes two feet per second. Get out. If the dog or cat is next to you dump out the window and follow ASAP. Forget everything else. That is what is taught. If you pet(s) are not within reach, get out. Your pets will die, but so will you of you don't.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by MLP

...That is what is taught. If you pet(s) are not within reach, get out. Your pets will die, but so will you of you don't.

Sad... but true!

[Hooligan2]

What I learned... ...Previous RV, 36 Diesel pusher. article on IRV-2 about RV fire safety and escape... ... I built a fire escape ladder, cut down one from Kidde, modified top to grip RV bedroom window sill. Mounted and accessible on the base of the bed. Did a great job.... So I tried it... found I needed a pillow or corner of mattress to protect from very sharp window sill. Out the window, but now needed a wooden prop to hold the hinged window open. Down the floppy ladder feet first, and holding the window sill my feet were only 6 inches off the ground. ...obviously .over-engineered.. . (wife was amused)
Didn't need a ladder, do need to protect from the window edge. Lower the wife and follow feet first. Quick counts after all.

[Bob Denman]

How about some pictures??

[macdaddy1111]

do you use a Surge Protector for your rig?