Occupied RV Fire

[NamMedevac_70]

This poor lady just lost her Class A RV in a fire just now in Reno when a heater tipped over. She made it out safely but photo shows total distruction.

https://www.kolotv.com/2021/02/17/motorhome-destroyed-in-fire/

[CavemanCharlie]

Some electric heaters get very hot on their front surface. The good ones have a guard on the front along with the tip over switch. But, I have seen cheaper ones with no guard so even if they have a tip over switch the could easily start a fire from their residual heat when they tip over.

Even with the guard if the electric heater was setting on something like shag carpet when it tipped over it could start a fire.

[markchengr]

It was most likely NOT an electric heater.

[Grit_dog]

That is horrible for that person, considering that was definitely their home.
There’s also about a great chance it was an old school radiant propane heater.
And most likely ill placed, or combustibles placed too near it.
Or using the stove for heat.
Also most homeless people RVs are packed full of, whatever, and a rolling fire trap.
Add the cold, and all that to the typical drug and alcohol issues and this becomes a common occurrence.

[bukhrn]

coolmom42 wrote:

Edd505 wrote:

coolmom42 wrote:
That's sad. And I doubt she has adequate insurance to replace it, even if she could replace it, and now she's homeless.

It must have been an older heater. All the space heaters I've seen in several years have a tip over switch that cuts them off when they fall over.

That was my first thought ................................

It's very easy to check the cutoff switch, and I always do that fairly often. All you have to do is pick up the heater, or tip it.

X-2, I don't have to pick mine up very far,3/4" it shuts off.

[bucky]

fire clicky

[coolmom42]

Edd505 wrote:

coolmom42 wrote:
That's sad. And I doubt she has adequate insurance to replace it, even if she could replace it, and now she's homeless.

It must have been an older heater. All the space heaters I've seen in several years have a tip over switch that cuts them off when they fall over.

That was my first thought ................................

It's very easy to check the cutoff switch, and I always do that fairly often. All you have to do is pick up the heater, or tip it.

[beemerphile1]

Maybe this was the heater:


This stupid suggestion is all over Facebook the last couple of days.

[deltabravo]

Article doesn't say if it was an electric heater or a propane heater. I can't imagine someone running an onboard genny to power an electric space heater (very inefficient use of resources) so it was probably a propane heater.

She's parked on the street, so it's highly unlikely she was plugged in.

[Edd505]

coolmom42 wrote:
That's sad. And I doubt she has adequate insurance to replace it, even if she could replace it, and now she's homeless.

It must have been an older heater. All the space heaters I've seen in several years have a tip over switch that cuts them off when they fall over.

That was my first thought ................................

[Cummins12V98]

" All the space heaters I've seen in several years have a tip over switch that cuts them off when they fall over."

Considering where most are made will you bet your life the tip over switch will work??? One BIG reason I had "Cheap Heat" installed.

[TUCQUALA]

If heater was a low priced coil or wire style, it still could have been pretty hot, and depending on what it was sitting on, could easily start a fire.

[coolmom42]

That's sad. And I doubt she has adequate insurance to replace it, even if she could replace it, and now she's homeless.

It must have been an older heater. All the space heaters I've seen in several years have a tip over switch that cuts them off when they fall over.