RV storage fire-

[HONDAMAN174]

I was headed over to my storage lot to take measurements for a project when my phone started blowing up from friends saying my storage yard was on fire.

The end result was not good for many. 20 units destroyed- one was my buddy one door over and another was an employees Mom's unit.

No loss of life- no injuries.






My unit was untouched but I stayed at the lot until we were allowed in then I called those affected.

An rv was left in its spot and forgotten about by its owner. After 10 years, they received notice that their payments had expired and either needed to pay or remove unit. Owner contacted a friend and said if they can get it out- it would be theirs. So a father and sons team drained fuel tank, put in fresh fuel and new battery and cranked on the motor. Fuel lines ruptured and put gas on ground and may have been ignited by engine backfires.




2014 Evo 2850 "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra "Clifford"

[Bako88fan]

Saw that on Facebook. U haul Lake Mead/Tenaya. I know that place, my dad had his boat there. What a shame. Poor guy who's going to lose everything after accidentally causing a fire.

I've been restoring/selling RVs and my least favorite to restore are fire damaged units. These look like total losses.

[wahoonc]

Now I can see at least some reasoning behind the "now working on rv's in the storage lot" rule...

I just hope everyone was fully insured!

Aaron

[HONDAMAN174]

Kinda funny but not- storage yard buzzed me to ask which tow company I thought would be best to get out the units.

Insurance companies problem.


2014 Evo 2850 "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra "Clifford"

[Cowracer]

Originally Posted by wahoonc

I just hope everyone was fully insured!

Aaron

I think its just as long as the guys who started the fire is insured. I know that if mine was just insured for liability and someone else started a fire that burned it, then you can bet your bippy that they will be the ones to pay for it.

Tim

[HONDAMAN174]

But if the unit was forgotten about to the point that the storage yard had to send notice to pay up or get out, doubtful they carried insurance on it!


2014 Evo 2850 "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra "Clifford"

[aceinspp]

Glade there where no injuries. Guess that is one reason why I'm glade I don't have to store mine in a lot. Later RJD

[HONDAMAN174]

What was really shocking to me was how many propane tanks that did not go boom. There were some explosions from tanks letting go but about 90% of the damaged units still had tanks intact.


2014 Evo 2850 "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra "Clifford"

[Cowracer]

Originally Posted by HONDAMAN174

What was really shocking to me was how many propane tanks that did not go boom. There were some explosions from tanks letting go but about 90% of the damaged units still had tanks intact.


2014 Evo 2850 "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra "Clifford"

All propane tanks have pressure relief valves to prevent a BLEVE (pronounced bulevee) or a Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion. In other words, applying enough heat to a propane tank will cause the liquid propane to boil, and that pressure will build up till something has to give.

Without the pressure relief, the tank would explode, with the classic fireball and shrapnel everywhere. but with a relief valve, the valve opens at a pressure lower than the tank failure point. You will wind up with a jet of propane out the valve that will usually ignite. Usually by the time the tank vents, the area is on so much fire that it can go unnoticed.

The other think to consider is that tank level greatly impacts the pressure that can build up. IIRC, a under 1/2 empty tank can vaporize its whole load and stay under the relief valve pop-off pressure.

These days, its exceedingly rare for a consumer propane tank to explode in a fire. If one does, it usually turns out its an older one without the relief valve.

Tim

[Teamfour]

Originally Posted by Cowracer

All propane tanks have pressure relief valves to prevent a BLEVE (pronounced bulevee) or a Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion. In other words, applying enough heat to a propane tank will cause the liquid propane to boil, and that pressure will build up till something has to give.

Without the pressure relief, the tank would explode, with the classic fireball and shrapnel everywhere.

And don't under estimate the force of the explosion from one of these 30 or 40 lb tanks. I use to conduct high-speed filming of BLEVE tests and it is frightening what a small propane tank can do when in a fire. Although not as much as the 18-wheeler full of mortar rounds did...

[Mr Havercamp]

Originally Posted by Cowracer

but with a relief valve, the valve opens at a pressure lower than the tank failure point. You will wind up with a jet of propane out the valve that will usually ignite. Usually by the time the tank vents, the area is on so much fire that it can go unnoticed.

These days, its exceedingly rare for a consumer propane tank to explode in a fire. If one does, it usually turns out its an older one without the relief valve.

Once upon a time, about 5 years ago, a doomoss and his brother in law, the other doomoss, decided to build a fire around one while sucking back a few cold ones and proved without a doubt its very hard to splode one. They will however shoot fire about 20 feet horizontally which is quite impressive

[HONDAMAN174]

Ah- good to know. Was always worried about that in my summer heat.

And for doomoss, party of two, any relation since you know the story well?


2014 Evo 2850 "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra "Clifford"

[doc73]

I just want to know if there is video proof.. You know, pictures or it did not happen... LOL

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by Cowracer

I think its just as long as the guys who started the fire is insured. I know that if mine was just insured for liability and someone else started a fire that burned it, then you can bet your bippy that they will be the ones to pay for it.

Tim

I keep mine fully insured because too many people DON'T carry insurance. On an older unit I might do something different. I will be willing to bet that they guys responsible for this mess either don't have insurance or won't have enough to even begin to cover the damage. Lawyers are going to have a field day.

Aaron

[rockfordroo]

The Myth Busters defeated the relief valve and heated one up. They had created a thin spot on the bottom to preferentially cause the failure there, and I think they put fins on the tank. Pretty impressive when it let go.