The date has expired on the small fire extinguisher that I had in my previous VW camper and then put in my Puck. Just wondered what you guys have in your vans before I buy a replacement.

Got our 2kg extinguisher from Aldi a couple of years ago - 15Euros I think or somewhere around there. Your post reminds me to check when it's due for a test.
Aldi Fire Ext..jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Wearing another hat now, a good tip prior to operating any powder filled extinguisher is to turn it upside down and shake it vigorously prior to use. Dry Powder as has been stated will obviously settle under it's own weight - even one that is only a few months - old so a through shake is always advisable.

Got a feeling a video of my 5 year old 'out of date' extinguisher in action may be helpful just to see 'what happens' when I set it off!!
What do you think?

make sure you also carry a fire blanket. More likely to use a blanket and it wouldn't make a terrible mess.

Just ordered one. We hadn't thought of that before.

An update for anyone that is interested as I let off the 'out of date' fire extinguisher in my garden tonight. Only £13 from B&Q and compact but I'm happy enough with its performance that I've bought an identical replacement for the van.

I have the video (which I'm sure will be of interest to some) but can't upload it for some reason???

There is no where to upload a video on the forum what I do is upload to youtube then link to it using the video code link next to the smilies in the message posting box.

How to Show your youtube videos

Thanks hob, was feeling like the modern technology had beat me there for a moment!!
I will have another go tomorrow.

Just added a link above for my how to post a video in the help section.

There have been some useful comments re-fire extinguishers and fire blankets to which I'd like to contribute some thoughts. A fireman friend once remarked that fire blankets never have a use by date and therefore have no risk of being found wanting. I think that when considering fire extinguishing one might do well to consider if the van is on mains hook up at the time of the fire because some extinguishers and mains electricity are 'not the best of friends'. When considering the possibilities of a fire in a van one might consider a plan of action. For example if it were to happen in our cooking area (which is mid van) and we were at the end where there's no door (it being the other side of the cooker) are we agile enough to get out via the window, or do we crawl low down under the fire and out. Do we have extinguishers at either end of the van. All questions to consider. On occasions I've been on sites where buckets of water have been rigged up for fire extinguishing purposes (see comments re hook up above). If you're in a basic site by yourself might you organise your own water bucket? And now to maintenance. I see a value in an annual inspection that includes a certified check of gas and electrics. That hopefully would minimise fire sources due to damaged services. Gas pipes and electrics can deteriorate irrespective of the van's annual usage. I'm nowhere near our van so I'm not sure if the mattresses and other soft furnishings are fire proof. But should we change anything I'd ensure the fabrics would be fire resistant. We might think that some measures are costly but they are minimal when compared to the van's value or the potential of a curtailed holiday, curtailed by a disaster.

By all accounts fires in touring caravans are extremely rare, and I would guess that most of them would start either in the cooking area or in the awning, although I did a Google search and found a report in the Scarborough News about a caravan fire at a local site:

'It was a touring caravan and the owners had gone out. It just burst into flames.'

The report doesn't say what make of caravan it was, but I've never heard of an Eriba spontaneously combusting* so I think we should be ok there.

But I agree with your fireman pal, in a touring caravan a fire blanket would be far more effective than a fire extinguisher.

*Although you might want to read Aaron Calder's recent post.

I have thought about this and I think that in the event of a fire my only concern is to get us both out as quickly and safely as possible. I certainly don't intend to use a fire extinguisher. I will use a fire blanket to allow escape either by covering the fire or as a shield. The van can burn and insurance can pay up.