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Exit Windows and Fire

Yahoo Message Number: 79462
Has anyone tried to get out? Alone? With someone? If so, please tell us how you did it. Even if you haven't used it, do you have a plan you think would work?
Suggestion: Attend the fire safety classes at the various rallies, such as FMCA. Information changes, new products come to market and these classes are very good even if you think you know it all.
Ask how to get out through those EXIT windows. When we last attended around 2006, we got a scary answer--If there are two of you, hold each other's forearms and then the first one goes out feet first, pulling the second one out head first with help from gravity and the weight of the first one out.... Yes, head first, and it's a long way down. Note that this method was demonstrated in front of the class, not in a real motorhome, and we pretty much knew we'd have to be facing the Devil himself before we tried it...
Anyway, their answer applied to two people. What if there is another combination? An invalid. An overweight person, or two? A lone person?
It is not enough that an EXIT window might actually open when you need it. You also must get out and hope not to break your neck, not get stuck because you are bigger than the window and not get your belly or butt hung on that thin ledge. You will have no time for a plan B.
The fire safety classes will advise adding larger fire extinguishers in the front and the back than those that came with the coach. And, add Kidde PI9010 Battery-operated dual ionization and photoelectric sensor smoke alarms (or similar) front and back. These ionization alarms detect chemical changes (such as leaking fridge chemicals) before there is smoke. Keep your other smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detector in good working order at all times, even if you have to search for a replacement for the original carbon monoxide detector.
Fire safety classes discuss types of fire extinguishers and probably will recommend multipurpose types. Do not bet your life on fire extinguishers putting out your RV fire. RVs go up like dry leaves and the released chemicals will disable you before the smoke and fire can. Extinguishers buy time to get out.
Did the people in the fire outside Las Vegas have large extinguishers with which they could have knocked out exit windows, kept fire at bay and bought time for themselves? Or did they only have that little one by the front door?
Regarding tire-caused fires, people on this forum are always asking how long to keep tires. The best you can do is know the dates of manufacture of your tires, not keep your tires for more than five-six years regardless of use, inspect frequently for damage and keep inflation appropriate. You are pushing tons of truck and surely would not want to have killed somebody because of an old, neglected or previously damaged tire. Save money other ways.
s/Terry Apple (2004 40' Allure Newport 31001 lost to fridge fire last fall, on AC, unoccupied)

Re: Exit Windows and Fire

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 79465
Terry, I share your concern and did ask myself these same questions and more a few months back.

Jeanne, my wife, & I attended a 2 hour seminar by Mac the FireGuy (http://www.macthefireguy.com/) at the March, 2012 Country Coach International (CCI) Tucson Rally. The seminar motivated us to get serious about coach fires and emergencies. We wrote an article, that answers your questions and more, in cooperation with Mac.

We have not had a fire but did spend 2 hours testing the exit strategies (climbing on counters, fitting through windows, how to handle the 2 cats, and created an emergency exit bag with keys, wallets, etc. and so on).

This article, which pertains to diesel pushers, can be found at either of the 2 following locations.

This article location is currently available -
http://www.countrycoachclub.com/uploads/OTRA%20-%20April%202012.pdf
Issue of April, 2012, pg.13
This article location is not available until June 1 -

http://catrvclub.org/newsletter.htm Issue of May, 2012, pg. 20

Hope you find this information helpful.

Lee

--------------
--

Lee (leozbrowski@...) 2007 Country Coach Intrigue 12153
CAT C-13
 

Re: Exit Windows and Fire

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 79467
Terry,

I have given the Subject a lot of thought. My first difficulty is that on my coach, the exit windows are not hinged, the red window latch only releases the sliding section of the window and they are over 7 ft. from the ground.
I have placed a thick throw rug over the back of the sofa to be used over the window frame so you don't get snagged on the frame. My next step is to buy a boat ladder that hooks over the frame and long enough to reach the ground. What I haven't figured out yet is some kind of a handle (like the door handle or the kind they use on 5th Wheeler's that fold) to attached to the outside of the window to grab on to. I really am not sure about the handle on the outside by the window. I want to talk to other people first.

Michael

05 Inspire #51381

**************************************** Michael Title

Halfmoon Bay, BC, Canada
CDN Cell: 604.741.3328

San Miguel De Allende, GTO Mexico MEX Cell: [52] 415.100.1543

From:Terry Apple Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 5:55 AM To:Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Country-Coach-Owners] Exit Windows and Fire

Has anyone tried to get out? Alone? With someone? If so, please tell us how you did it. Even if you haven't used it, do you have a plan you think would work?
Suggestion: Attend the fire safety classes at the various rallies, such as FMCA. Information changes, new products come to market and these classes are very good even if you think you know it all.
Ask how to get out through those EXIT windows. When we last attended around 2006, we got a scary answer--If there are two of you, hold each other's forearms and then the first one goes out feet first, pulling the second one out head first with help from gravity and the weight of the first one out.... Yes, head first, and it's a long way down. Note that this method was demonstrated in front of the class, not in a real motorhome, and we pretty much knew we'd have to be facing the Devil himself before we tried it...
Anyway, their answer applied to two people. What if there is another combination? An invalid. An overweight person, or two? A lone person?
It is not enough that an EXIT window might actually open when you need it. You also must get out and hope not to break your neck, not get stuck because you are bigger than the window and not get your belly or butt hung on that thin ledge. You will have no time for a plan B.
The fire safety classes will advise adding larger fire extinguishers in the front and the back than those that came with the coach. And, add Kidde PI9010 Battery-operated dual ionization and photoelectric sensor smoke alarms (or similar) front and back. These ionization alarms detect chemical changes (such as leaking fridge chemicals) before there is smoke. Keep your other smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detector in good working order at all times, even if you have to search for a replacement for the original carbon monoxide detector.
Fire safety classes discuss types of fire extinguishers and probably will recommend multipurpose types. Do not bet your life on fire extinguishers putting out your RV fire. RVs go up like dry leaves and the released chemicals will disable you before the smoke and fire can. Extinguishers buy time to get out.
Did the people in the fire outside Las Vegas have large extinguishers with which they could have knocked out exit windows, kept fire at bay and bought time for themselves? Or did they only have that little one by the front door?
Regarding tire-caused fires, people on this forum are always asking how long to keep tires. The best you can do is know the dates of manufacture of your tires, not keep your tires for more than five-six years regardless of use, inspect frequently for damage and keep inflation appropriate. You are pushing tons of truck and surely would not want to have killed somebody because of an old, neglected or previously damaged tire. Save money other ways.
s/Terry Apple (2004 40' Allure Newport 31001 lost to fridge fire last fall, on AC, unoccupied)