Exit Windows

[rb8921]

Anyone every practice opening and going out one of the emergency EXIT windows? Anyone have emergency equipment besides a fire extinguisher in the BR like an escape ladder for getting out? I was thinking about it today. I heard that with a fire in one of our rigs we have 20 seconds to get out. If there is a fire in the kitchen of our fifth wheel while we are in the bedroom there are things I’m gonna need that I keep on the kitchen table like wallet and truck keys. If everything goes up in smoke I won’t have them. it’s a pretty good drop to the ground and if we go out at 2:30 in the morning we won’t have a lot of time to get dressed. Just wondering how others have prepared.

[XCMARK]

Originally Posted by rb8921

Anyone every practice opening and going out one of the emergency EXIT windows? Anyone have emergency equipment besides a fire extinguisher in the BR like an escape ladder for getting out? I was thinking about it today. I heard that with a fire in one of our rigs we have 20 seconds to get out. If there is a fire in the kitchen of our fifth wheel while we are in the bedroom there are things I’m gonna need that I keep on the kitchen table like wallet and truck keys. If everything goes up in smoke I won’t have them. it’s a pretty good drop to the ground and if we go out at 2:30 in the morning we won’t have a lot of time to get dressed. Just wondering how others have prepared.

I hope these comments help and I am not making light of a very real potential problem.


I would suggest getting a few extra fire extinguishers put one in the bed room and one out side in the basement or some place that is easy to access without a key preferably. getting out the window that's 20x 28 isn't easy or fast. knocking the flames down or out for a small fires isn't a big deal in my eyes. the smoke will kill you before the burns from the fire.

[Char & Steve]

Agree with the above. We have a few extra extinguishers in the bedroom and also a hammer and baseball bat. Smash the window completely out if need be. We have a bike rack on the back that can help as a step. We have the rear bedroom.

Steve

[830hvacman]

Well, I have thought about it, but..... Its a good drop to the ground - bones can heal, in due time.
Guess we need to have a "fire drill" one day.
I do like the idea of adding a few more fire extinguishers in the bedroom and maybe in the propane compartments, just for good measure.

Thanks for sharing!

[camper94]

I have 3 bottle type ABC Fire Extinguishers in the RV. Even have the small cheapy one that came with the RV and I moved it into the Washer and Dryer Slide Out.

I also have a 10 ft. Collapsible Aluminum Ladder that I keep in the Bedroom Closet. All I have to do is pull on Strap and it opens up to the ground. I am in the process of creating hooks to attach to this ladder to hold it against the inside of the EGRESS Window.

There was a Recall for the REAR WINDOW EGRESS. Seems Redwood installed some windows with the Ladder over the window. Making it impossible to get out of. On my 38RL, there is another EGRESS Window on the KITCHEN Side Wall. But, you may have 2 Exit Stickers on your Windows. The FTC has notified REDWOOD about this problem and I have in turn removed the sticker that was blocked by my rear ladder.

Something everyone should know, especially in the Bedroom Window and the other Egress windows, be sure to throw a blanket or Large Towel Over the Window Frame before exiting. This way you won't be leaving any Body Parts behind should you have to exit quickly.

One final thought, If you travel with PETS, it's a good idea to place a sticker on the windows, informing First Responders that there are Pets in the RV and please try to rescue them. This would be in case you were not there if a Fire Broke out! You can buy these stickers on Amazon.

[rb8921]

Thanks. Would you share info on the ladder please.

[atom ant]

The factory extinguisher is a 2.5 lb disposable. A 5 lb fits there without issue (at least on our 36RL)

For a second extinguisher, try to go to at least a 10 lb. They can be mounted and secured in the basement even in an approved vehicle bracket. This is a good fire extinguisher to access and attempt to suppress a fire AFTER you have already evacuated the RV. By having it outside in the basement, it gives you a chance finish evacuating, get someone on the phone to call for help and size-up the fire before trying to engage it.

10 lb is the magic number because they are available in vehicle brackets like this one. This is the typical extinguisher carried on utility vehicles for OSHA requirements, such as power company trucks, fork trucks, etc and it actually is big enough to attempt an engine fire on your truck if necessary.

You folks may be able to negotiate a discount from a local vendor at the rally. My daughter did for her volunteer rescue group and this one with bracket sells for $80 in her group - about a 20% discount over Amazon.

[Jim & Mary]

nice post Brad........thanks a bunch

[Cheezy1]

We were at a park in Naples, FL last winter when a Winnebago Class A burned.
The unit was six months old and the fire started because of an electrical short. The couple escaped and were lucky to have retired firemen one staying on each side of them. In less than ten minutes the fire was out but the unit was a total loss. Forget the extinguishers as the inside of this unit was totally destroyed in less than five minutes of actual burning. The couple didn't have time get their wallet, keys or money and they were both up and dressed at the time of the fire. It was very scary to think that the fire could do that much damage in that short of time. Practice getting out of your unit and keep an extra set of keys and a credit card in your truck for emergencies.

[camper94]

Originally Posted by rb8921

Thanks. Would you share info on the ladder please.

I have to finish up my Brackets for the ladder, but will post as soon as I can.

[atom ant]

Originally Posted by Cheezy1

We were at a park in Naples, FL last winter when a Winnebago Class A burned.
The unit was six months old and the fire started because of an electrical short. The couple escaped and were lucky to have retired firemen one staying on each side of them. In less than ten minutes the fire was out but the unit was a total loss. Forget the extinguishers as the inside of this unit was totally destroyed in less than five minutes of actual burning. The couple didn't have time get their wallet, keys or money and they were both up and dressed at the time of the fire. It was very scary to think that the fire could do that much damage in that short of time. Practice getting out of your unit and keep an extra set of keys and a credit card in your truck for emergencies.

There can be quite a time lag from initial ignition to actual free burn, so it is often the perception that the fire started and ended in five minutes. In fact a frame house can reach flashover in 5 minutes and be a total loss, but typically the fire burned for a while in the incipient stage.

Fire extinguishers are only part of the equation, early detection another, keys and wallet another, and practicing egress another yet. A good fire extinguisher might save your 5er if you catch it on time, especially kitchen fires.

Some preventative measures:

• Take the time to check and torgue your electrical connections in the panel; the ground and neutral bar; the fireplace; the ACs; the transfer switch; anywhere it was assembled at the factory. Redwood is better than others but vulnerable. The fireplaces are particulary bad (3 melted terminal strips on the Montana Club within a year), Iota transfer switch recall for lose terminals causing fires impacted Redwood, etc.
• Add smoke detectors. DON'T remove the ion detectors that were factory installed as they are the best detector for recreation vehicles and approved by NFPA, but add more ion detectors and photoelectric for early detection. I added First Alert photo/heat/CO detectors to my Redood including the basement, behind the basement wall, bedroom, and living room, and they communicated with each other wirelessly to sound them all off in an event.
• Upgrade the LP regulators. They are both bottom line regulators and Marshall Brass has much higher quality.
• Regularly inspect the gas absorption fridge coils for corrosion and leakage - I drive by a burned out Redwood every week on I-25 and rumor has it that his Dometic fridge failed (it must have been a 2012). Norcold has the same issue.