Static Caravan Fire Risks

Owning a caravan comes with a host of responsibilities, and you need to know of any risks so you can prepare for them accordingly. One of the biggest static caravan risks is fire, but how much of an impact does this really have?

It’s long been thought that static caravans have more of a fire risk than regular houses, simply because of their design and the materials used in constructing them. Being made up of a lot of wood and with fewer partitioning rooms to contain any fires that were to start, it’s unsurprising that insurers see caravans as inherently risky and combustible. As such, fire risk always makes up a huge chunk of any caravan insurance policy, and although not a legal requirement it certainly makes sense to have such a policy in place.

If a fire were to start in your caravan, think of how quickly it could engulf the entire vehicle. Most caravans aren’t particularly large and they’re also not generally made of fire-retardant materials, particularly the older models, meaning that fire could spread incredibly quickly. Hazards that commonly lead to caravan fires include smoking, cooking and faulty wiring, and any one of these could quickly see your precious caravan up in flames.

Although there are plenty of new models to choose from, it still can’t be said that they’re “as safe as houses” in terms of fire risk. The small dimensions and the materials used will still always make these vehicles incredibly risky, and statistics even show that caravans have more combustible materials per square metre than just about any other dwelling.

However, there are things that you can do to prevent the risk of fire in your caravan. A lot of them are common sense ideas such as making sure your gas cylinders and any electrical equipment or appliances are properly maintained and tested, and always make sure that your upholstery is in good condition. Remember that if you own a foreign model you need to be extra vigilant in your fire prevention measures, as they won’t always be subject to the same kind of regulations and standards as British models.

As you can see, fire is one of the most important static caravan risks that you need to be aware of. Given that your caravan will be an incredibly expensive vehicle it makes sense to be prepared, so always make sure that you have third party, fire and theft included in your caravan insurance policy at the absolute minimum.