Caravans and Camping

When caravanning, or camping make sure you take appropriate fire safety precautions when you arrive:

Tents

Allow at least 6 metres spacing between tents and caravans and ensure they are away from parked cars to reduce the risk of fire spreading
Never use candles in or near a tent - torches are safer.
Keep cooking appliances away from the tent walls and never cook inside a small tent or near flammable materials or long grass; they can all set alight easily.
Make sure you know how to escape by cutting your way out of the tent if there’s a fire.
Make sure everyone knows how to put out clothing that’s on fire - stop, drop and roll.
Don’t smoke inside tents.
Never attempt to use a barbecue, or other gas appliance designed for outside use, in a tent, this can lead to the build up of poisonous gases.

Fit and test a smoke alarm in your caravan - optical alarms are usually most effective.
Take special care when cooking - don’t leave pans unattended.
Turn off all appliances before you go out or to bed.
Make sure ashtrays are made of a material that can’t burn or topple over –never smoke in bed.
Don’t dry clothes over the stove.
Remove any litter and rubbish near the caravan to reduce the risk of fire spreading.
Make sure the caravan is ventilated, and never block air vents, to avoid a build up of poisonous gases.

Always treat LPG gas cylinders with care:

Change cylinders in open air.
Make sure the appliance controls and cylinder valve are turned off before you change the cylinder.
If you think there might be a gas leak in the cylinder connection or pipes - extinguish all naked flames, brush soapy water over all the joints and then look for bubbles. Tighten (but do not over tighten) leaky joints.
Always ensure LPG regulator is compatible with your appliances.
Unless designed to be left on, ensure all appliances are turned off when not in use.