B.C. Coroners Service and Fire Commissioner Issue Warning About Mobile Home Fires
Victoria, B.C. – In the wake of five separate fires in B.C. which took seven lives over the span of five days, the B.C. Coroners Service and Office of the Fire Commissioner have issued a special notice, urging owners of mobile (manufactured) homes and operators of mobile home parks to take special care to prevent fires.
Three of the five fatal fires occurred in mobile homes or travel trailers in which people were living. The specific causes of the fires are not yet available, but it is known that fires in such housing, especially older units, tend to be more devastating than those in other types of housing. A US study found that the death rate in mobile home fires is 32 to 50% higher than in other types of housing.
Escape from mobile home fires is more difficult for a number of reasons:
* The space is smaller, which puts the occupant closer to the products of combustion.
* They do not ventilate as readily as other homes, and chances of survival decrease.
* A second exit is not always accessible.
* They are sometimes made of more flammable material.
Specific steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of all home fires include:
* Have furnaces inspected at least once a year, and clean the blower and filters often to prevent overheating. Keep the furnace area clear of clutter.
* Ensure electrical wiring and appliances are in good working order. Watch out for any signs of wiring trouble, including flickering lights for no apparent reason; warm, inoperable, strange-smelling or discoloured switch plates or outlets; sparking or electrical arcing; or a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker. Never run extension cords under rugs.
* Avoid the use of space heaters if at all possible. If it is essential to use one, use a CSA-approved model and ensure it is well away from drapes, bedding, clothing or other flammable materials.
* It is the law for all homes to be equipped with smoke detectors and highly recommended homes have a fire extinguisher.
* If a natural gas or liquid propane (LP) line runs into the mobile home, know where the shutoff valve is and how to operate it. Never keep LP tanks inside the home or in confined spaces under the home, and never use a gas stove to heat or dry the home.
* Take special precautions with smoking materials. Ensure that all cigarettes and matches are fully extinguished and discarded well away from any flammable materials. Never smoke in bed.
* Consideration should be given to replacing wood-based combustible wall coverings with gypsum board products, which slow down the progression of fire.
* Recognize that impairment by alcohol or drugs can reduce one’s ability to respond quickly to a fire and get out in time.
Developing and practicing home evacuation plans can help people prepare for an emergency. Most home fires occur at night, when people are the least prepared. A home fire can become a disaster if you and your family are not familiar with how to escape.
Comments
Again lets blame the Owner, why not the Manufacturer or the Government who allows this substandard to be build
They are mainly talking about the older mobile/manufactured trailers/homes. The newer ones have gyproc. Older trailers have the old panelling on all the walls. Some are covered with mac-tac or wallpaper. Over the years there are probably coats of lead paint etc on the walls…….They were built with 2×3 frames which were to codes back then. Of course travel trailers are a different story – there is no gypsum due to the weight of the material etc.
I agree with you 100% Outwest.
The Ofice of the Fire Commissioner is in a position to do something about occupancy factors identified in the second grouping.
The Building Code authors are in a position to do something about the first three issues which are that “escape from mobile home fires is more difficult for a number of reasons:
1. The space is smaller, which puts the occupant closer to the products of combustion.
2. They do not ventilate as readily as other homes, and chances of survival decrease.
3. A second exit is not always accessible.
4. They are sometimes made of more flammable material.”
——————————–
1. is true for bed-sitting room apartments that can be around 450 to 550 square feet.
2. again, there is no cross ventilation in bachelor and most small apartments. Nor is cross ventilation necessarily desirable since oxygen promotes combustion.
3. There is no second exit to speak of from an apartment unit 10 storeys up … break a window in a trailer and you are out as long as you have a bit of agility.
Notwithstanding that, revise the codes to recognize any shortcomings of trailers and put in measures to mitigate them
– large and accessible exits at both ends (windows can be designed better for that purpose)
– smoke detectors with alarms in several areas hooked up to the electrical system instead of batteries.
– a good sized fire extinguishers near each of two exits
– non flammable wall, ceiling and built-in cabinets finishes
– electrical heating system.
Pressed paper,laminated cardboard, carcinogenic glues? What can one expect?
Comments for this article are closed.