’30 Foot Blaze’ Burns Through Caravan In Shimpling

Fire pits are becoming increasingly popular as they are suitable for outdoor parties and according to a survey in 2014 67% of homeowners said they wanted a fire pit to keep parties going as the cold season approaches. However according to NFPA the ‘total outdoor patio heater or fire pit injuries has nearly tripled in six years (1,330 to 3,608) from 2006 – 2012’. During this winter season ensure that you are using fire pits safely as they can be very dangerous when they are not safely maintained, as Paul Moore, an insulation engineer, learned for himself.

 

Paul was using a fire pit in his back garden which he had ‘used over thirty times with zero issues’however due to the rubbish bags that somebody had thrown on there, this time there was an issue. The fire spread from the fire pit, towards Paul’s

caravan which was described as a ’30 foot blaze’. Paul believes that the fire spread towards the caravan due to an aerosol can

exploding and shooting underneath the caravan which was approximately 10 feet away from the fire. You can see the aerosol can in the picture to the right. This quickly spread from underneath the caravan upwards, until the caravan was completely on fire and burning fast. One of the tenants at the property was just about to go in to the caravan before they see it ablaze. Paul saw the glow from the fire from his kitchen window and rapidly ran around to witness the ’30 foot blaze’. He quickly reacted along with his partner Hazel to retrieve the hose and fetch continuous buckets of water in order to put out the flame. The blaze began just after 5pm and Paul and his partner Hazel managed to put extinguish the firer without calling emergency services however the fire was not in a safe position until just after 9pm, 4 hours after the fire started.

 

 

 

Paul said ‘I was most worried about the battery and gas canisters towards the front of the caravan, as if the fire had spread to this  area then it could have exploded and caused the fire to dangerously spread’. Fortunately after four hours of taming the fire with the hose and buckets and buckets of water they managed to put it out. Luckily, this time nobody was injured during this incident however the Caravan with personal belongings inside was burned to ashes.

 

Darren Penrose, Crew Manager of the Fire Department at RAF Lakenheath suggested some safety advice when using fire pits:

• Fire destruction is one man’s job, fire prevention is every body’s job
• Fire pit safety starts with selecting the right site. Make sure the ground is level, especially when using a portable fire pit. Keep fires located at least 10 to 20 feet away from surrounding plants, as well as from nearby buildings, including your home and caravans.
• Safety begins with fuel. Only burn wood that’s been seasoned at least six months. Avoid using construction materials, such as plywood or composite woods, which can release toxic fumes when burned. Softwoods, like pine and birch, tend to produce more crackles and sparks than seasoned hardwoods, like oak or hickory. Never use aerosols or pressurized containers near or on a fire. For wood-burning fire pits, cut logs so their length is less than three-quarters the diameter of the pit. Never use lighter fluid or gasoline to start a fire in a fire pit.
• Summary: Correct Location, Correct Fuel, Personnel Safety, and Extinguish when finished, and NEVER leave a Fire Pit Unattended.