Camper Trailer on fire
Submitted: Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 01:10
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imjames
Hi all if you happen to venture out to Winjana gorge NAT
Park and find a big spot of Ash at the end that faces the
rock face then you have found the place where our
Tambo Camper was destroyed by fire. Yes that's right our camper trailer and all its belongings caught fire on the 16th of August and we lost everything bar our lives all due to a faulty gas hose or bottle. It was sad and horrific. We had planned this trip for 1.5 yrs and we lost everything, all we had was shorts tshirts n thongs, but hey we have our lives and all I got was minor burns. The peope in
Derby all rock as they helped us out. We did have insurance but its all the extra expenses of starting again that just add up, but the lesson from this is do not keep your gas near your camper. ours burnt out in 8 mins id say and it was so sad for my 6 and 10 yr old to witness and they lost their fav things. Anyway light the
explorers we will push on with the trip but the lesson for you all is be careful with gas n fire. hoo roo james oh and u can view images at
http://harviesadventures.blogspot.com/
Reply By: Member - John (Vic) - Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 01:23
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 01:23
Mate thats no good at all.
Good to see you and the family are all good.
Do you know exactly what happened to the gas set up to cause the fire?
AnswerID:
380371
Reply By: Flywest - Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 01:27
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 01:27
I read the blog & your description of events.
In it you mention that you had trouble with the cooker and bottle, so disconnected it, and rectified the problem, and then re connected it?.
When you re lit the stove, flame then ran back along the hose to the bottle which presumably was in the holder on the side of the camper?
A question for you.
Before lighting it - did it occur to you to mix
water and detergent and wet all the connections to look for bubbles - indicating a leak - before you piut a match too it?
That's a "normal precaution" to take when messing with BBQ gas connections it would seem to me.
Might this simple precaution have prevented the tragedy bye indicating a leak at the bottle?
Not trying to Monday morning quarterback your actions - we all have 20 / 20 vision with the benefit of hindsight - just wondering if there aren't some lessons in this for others that might help prevent a repetition maybe is all.
Cheers
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Reply By: jdwynn (Adelaide) - Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 06:42
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 06:42
James, I'm very sorry to hear of your misfortune. IMO the most important thing is that you’re pushing on and keeping the dream alive. Cheers
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Reply By: landed eagle - Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 06:55
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 06:55
Bad luck mate,
Checked out the blog site......love your photographic work. The fanatastic Aussie landscape helps, but nice work all the same!
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Follow Up By: Member - graeme W (WA) - Friday, Aug 28, 2009 at 13:28
Friday, Aug 28, 2009 at 13:28
How do you find that particular blog?
Graeme.
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Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Friday, Aug 28, 2009 at 13:48
Friday, Aug 28, 2009 at 13:48
Look here Graeme (Scroll down the Blog page)
Blog Spot
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Reply By: Member - John M (NSW) - Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 06:59
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 06:59
James
Very sorry to hear about your loss and good to know that you and your family are all safe and without harm.
It is a good lesson for all of us to go those extra steps to take precaution when something goes wrong.
What do they say "cross check, double check and check again" or "measure twice and cut once."
I for one am certainly guilty of not doing this on many occasions and only concerntrate on fixing things and getting it going at the time of the event.
This is a good example of an earlier thread regarding leaving gas fridges running when travelling with caravans. Bloody dangerous!!!
I hope your insurance company stands behind you and the rest of your trip goes without incident.
Keep the dream alive.
Kind regards
John
| Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain! Lifetime Member
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AnswerID:
380381
Reply By: Member - Oldplodder (QLD) - Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 08:23
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 08:23
Sorry to hear of your troubles, but seem to have pulled through, good on you.
We had a similar scare many years ago, a gas connection on a bottle leaking, and a jet of flame. Got the fire extinguisher just in time.
We now carry ours FE on the outside of the camper trailer where it is easy to get to, on the other side to the gas bottle. Where do you carry yours now?
Reminds me, I better give it a shake, being powder it most probably has all settled to one side.
The 2nd one in the car is back up, as
well as the fire blanket near the kitchen. :o)
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Follow Up By: Member - Mike DID - Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 09:21
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 09:21
"Reminds me, I better give it a shake, being powder it most probably has all settled to one side."
- if you store it horizontally, vehicle movement will stop it compacting.
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Follow Up By: Member - Oldplodder (QLD) - Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 12:43
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 12:43
Thanks Mike,
Are on the side, but a habit picked up from track days and
hill climbs etc.
Most drivers are asked to get their FEs and shake them for one minute as part of driver briefing.
Can't do any harm. Have seen some one pull out a FE at a crash and just get a stream of propellant. :o)
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Reply By: Member - Fred B (NT) - Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 09:59
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 09:59
James & Family,
saw your blog and photos: sorry to hear of your loss, but I admire your courage. Keep on keep'n on mate. Truly hope your insurance does the right thing and coughs up the money right quick. Hope you got names and contacts of witnesses to support your claim with them. Having photo's to give them is great too. My congrats to all those that helped you in
Derby.
All the best to you and your family.
regards
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Reply By: hl - Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 17:58
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 17:58
Sorry to hear about you misfortune... but.. why would you carry 3 grand in cash on a
camping trip?
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Follow Up By: Dave... Adelaide (SA) - Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 19:00
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 19:00
Why not??? Have just returned from a trip to
Cape York and i carried about 3 grand cash on me!!
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Follow Up By: Member - Josh (VIC) - Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 20:36
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 20:36
Dave, why did you need 3 grand in cash. We never carried more than about $50 when we went to
the tip. Almost everywhere has efpos/credit now and 3 gs in an unlockable trailer????? On the Gibb never needed much cash either???
Regardless though very sad for the family. Hope the insurance comes through for them and they can get on with the amazing trip.
Josh
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Reply By: Best Off Road - Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 20:14
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 20:14
James,
Very bad news, but you've still got your lovely wife and children. I don't mean to sound trite, but it could have been so much worse.
See the glass half full and take some solace from the unfortunate experience. I trust will as you are still continuing the adventure.
Having met you and your wife, I'm sure you'll get the better of the sad situation. You've got the support of a strong woman and between you it will become a memory, but not a memory of "significant" loss. You've still got the children.
My Fond Regards,
Jim Best.
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Follow Up By: imjames - Friday, Sep 18, 2009 at 01:37
Friday, Sep 18, 2009 at 01:37
Hi to you all and thanks so much for your thoughts and comments. Yes we have pushed on and racked up the credit card, but hey u gotta get out there and fight on. Now Jim Best your slide out draws fitted to the Prado mate are bloody marvelouss. Best off Road rocks and his product are so dam sturdy, made the trip so easy to store food and the like. And to you all Im frustrated that when you purchase a gas bottle or appliance that there are no instructions on safety checks. Thanks again all u guys n gals for the feedback. Hope my story helps some one out there avoid disaster.
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Reply By: Smudger - Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 21:27
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 21:27
Well done guys ..gutsy attitude! Stuff happens.
It must have been devastating, yet you've got on with it.
You will always have great memories of the local folks who took care of you ..and the kids will have a great yarn to tell their mates, I reckon they'll be talking about it for the rest of their lives. No doubt the insurance has got you back on the track in the style you've become accustomed to, but chances are you've made lifelong friends as a result of this ordeal. And the main thing is you're all safe. That's the important stuff.
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Reply By: Member - Brian R (WA) - Wednesday, Aug 26, 2009 at 23:29
Wednesday, Aug 26, 2009 at 23:29
Hi James
Keep on movin....Glad you and family are OK
Brian
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