Stove Top Propane Leak Causes Devastating RV Fire

Propane Leak Causes Devastating RV Fire

By Mac McCoy

Facts
While on an extended trip to Yellowstone National Park in their motorhome, Hank and Marge Forester were at a campground and were cooking soup for dinner on their stovetop. The soup bubbled over creating a messy situation. Hank opened up the stovetop and cleaned off the propane line and fittings. Later when Marge turned on the auto-igniter for the stove, fire whooshed up and caught a roll of paper towels sitting on the countertop on fire. The propane had pooled from a leak that had started from the fittings being loosened when cleaned.

The fire spread quickly and Marge and Hank evacuated the RV and moved a safe distance away, feeling extremely helpless. An RVer from a nearby campsite rushed forward with a fire extinguisher, but by that time the fire was out of control and he called 911 to alert the fire department.

Outcome
With all their belongings destroyed, the Foresters weren't sure what to do. Fortunately, Marge had wisely put copies of important documents in a fire-safe box, which she had kept in the bedroom closet. After the fire was thoroughly extinguished, a fireman found the box and brought it to them. Inside were copies of their drivers licenses, insurance paperwork, family phone list, credit cards, a personal-belongings inventory and some emergency cash.

The first thing they did was borrow the neighbor's phone and call their insurance company. Their specialty-RV insurance policy's Emergency Expense Coverage paid for a hotel room so they could rest, call their family and work with their insurance company.

Over the next few days, an insurance adjuster declared the RV a total loss. The Foresters had Total Loss Replacement Coverage on their RV, so it was replaced with a new RV similar to the one they had. The Personal Contents Coverage allowed them to purchase replacement items for their belongings that had been lost in the fire. They were able to quickly get back on the road and continue their travels.

Reducing Your Risk
Having a fire extinguisher within reach in the kitchen (a common place for fires to start), knowing how to use it properly and fast action with it could have saved their motorhome from total loss.

The couple did a couple of things that helped to make a devastating experience a little easier. First, they exited the RV as soon as they saw the fire; this maneuver may have saved their lives. Secondly, they had thought ahead to keep their insurance documents and a list of their belongings in a fire-safe box. This allowed them to easily contact their insurance company, their family and begin getting their lives back together. The list of belongings made it easy for the insurance company to verify what was in the coach and assess the cost of replacement items. Third, they had Total Loss Replacement coverage on their motorhome. This protected them from the effects of depreciation. If they had been insured with actual cash value coverage, they would have received the amount the insurance adjuster deemed the RV was worth at the time of the loss. This amount would likely have been less than what they still owed on their RV loan, leaving them to pay the remaining amount out of their pocket and without an RV to enjoy.

Mac McCoy is a thirty-year fire-fighting veteran who has worked as a paramedic, deputy sheriff, the Fire Service Training Coordinator for the State of Oregon and now travels nationwide teaching RVers the skills needed for fire-safe travel. Mac has a bachelor's degree in Fire Science and a master's degree in Fire Administration. To learn more about Fire & Life Safety, find out where you can attend a Fire & Life Safety seminar taught by Mac, or to contact Mac, visit www.macthefireguy.com