There is a 2015 thread with the same title but I don’t have the first hand experience of that one, so I haven’t added to it. This article is about a MH that exploded into flames outside someone’s house recently: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/motorhome-explodes-quiet-street-terrified-34979714
Reasons as yet unknown, so I’m not guessing. A telling comment from a neighbour about the MH being “gutted”.
It’s one reason I’m happy with the 6m rule on sites.
Too damned right about (UK!) 6m rule! Not too long ago (last year/year before?) at CAMC Meathop IIRC, MH fire that was a total burnout even with good Fire Service response in reasonable time, but pretty much burnt to a chassis! ONLY the 6m spacing between pitches that saved units on neighbouring pitches, but bet it was uncomfortably hot for them!
Had friends with a brand new £60k MH, who had it put at risk by a fire in a adjacent tent, with LESS than 6m on a dubious ad hoc pitch site! Caused severe panic - thankfully extinguished by competent and diligent adjacent campers before it spread!
As a frequent camper on French 'pop up' sites at motor racing events, it's nothing less than alarming at the disregard for fire break distances between pitches (if it'll fit in the gap, it's OK seems to be the French attitude!!!!!), coupled with petrol generators galore (no EHU!), drunkenness (COMPULSORY to excess!), FIREWORKS!!!!. In the cold light of day it's bloody terrifying. It's no wonder our 'must pack' list when sober and planning involves SO MANY fire extinguishers!
Not sure how many people REALLY understand what a LPG fire has the potential of! Just the basics of a caravan/MH are going to burn with some intensity, as fuelled by wood and plastics!
One of the few rules that we had no objection to, but on many commercial sites it is ignored as they try to cram in as many people as possible.
We did have this issue once and wrote to the the local fire brigade for that site and also the planning office. The caravans were space less than 3m apart. They never bothered to look into it and the caravan site continued to cram in people on busy weekends.
Scenes of tents packed into a field with hardly any distance between them at festivals horrify me.
I have not attended musical festivals except as a day-tripper for a local 2-day event in the past few years, that's it (not going this year).
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Several years ago, we went to the Netherlands. When we first pitched we had good space around us, but, returning from a cycle ride, discovered someone parked next to us so close I struggled to get to our water bottle. Good job I was slim in those days.
Another year, in Germany, someone pitched sideways to us. The tow hitch was quite literally only 3or 4 inches from the side of our van.
Quote: Originally posted by Ancient Uncle on 03/4/2025
Several years ago, we went to the Netherlands. When we first pitched we had good space around us, but, returning from a cycle ride, discovered someone parked next to us so close I struggled to get to our water bottle. Good job I was slim in those days.
Another year, in Germany, someone pitched sideways to us. The tow hitch was quite literally only 3or 4 inches from the side of our van.
On the pop-up sites in France we use, it's commonplace to go out in your car and come back and find a tent pitched in 'your' (bought and paid for!) parking space beside your tent! - such is the chaos and demand for pitch space, we have got wise over the years and always leave our car space clearly 'claimed' with barrier tape and signs etc. - even then we've seen peeps trying to remove it to pitch there! Thankfully, in our case, 5 or 6 BIG annoyed blokes tends to convince them to go elsewhere! It's a 'posture' that transcends ALL languages It's so tight, usually have to drive car off pitch to be able to open doors for everyone to get in, and guy ropes often get pegged under the car!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Motorhome fire 2025
via mobile 02/4/2025 at 7:22pm
It's so tight, usually have to drive car off pitch to be able to open doors for everyone to get in, and guy ropes often get pegged under the car!
