This is Horrific - Fire at Meathop Fell
Just found this video by Bob Earnshaw who has been at Meathop Fell over the weekend and he filmed this onsite PVC fire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoD8alMEMBQ
David
Comments
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Thankfully, it suggests no one was hurt.
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From the commentary it suggests something to do with the gas bottles being changed while open and a spark?
As said thankfully there doesn't seem to be anyone hurt or further damage to neighbouring outfits, and it has to be said thank goodness for the (often attacked) fire spacing rules.
As it said someone's pride and joy gone, hope they are OK and things gets sorted for them
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Further to the reported fire at Meathop Fell we would like to assure members that everyone involved is safe. We would also like to thank the Site Staff and the Emergency Services for their quick response and resolution.
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The two visible wardens were issuing directions and I’m not sure how many more staff would be needed to provide the "chain of pointers". The appliance which overshot to turn was promptly redirected by the warden.
As for posting the video here, it was originally posted on worldwide YouTube where it’s stated that everyone seemed to be safe.
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If there are any, of course. Could you rely on bystanders to give non-ambiguous directions?
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It is very sad that this very horrible incident is being used to have a go at the club, and it's wardens and make light of the whole affair which even to those on site watching must have frightening, obviously nothing is beyond use in this respect no matter no horrific. Someone's pride and joy went up in flames, OK that can be replaced but what about the experiences and feelings of the owners.
I only hope the owners of the MH don't see some of the replies, if you are then again I hope you're all Ok and were looked after.
Good to see another outfit had its fire extinguisher out.
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I don’t think flippancy is appropriate and let's not turn this terrible event into another "Steamer Quay" analysis of what CAMC, apparently to some people, gets wrong, eh?
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I have mixed feelings on this one. Whilst it is obviously a very sad and traumatic experience, thankfully we have no injuries. I apologise if my viewpoint offends, but regarding the post above by petbobby:-
"I hope if ever my van sets on fire it isn't filmed and posted all over."
If the incident was due to the speculated incorrect changeover of bottles, then such a posting should be allowed to run as a warning of what can go wrong.
Colin
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Leave it to the staff, and the fire service. Both are trained for such emergencies.
In some ways, good that the outfit was sort of on the apex of a bend. Pitches in straight lines wouldn’t have had the same distance between, and the kind of heat generated might well have damaged vehicles and awnings in the gap. We are always wary of parking up to a hedge that has pitches both sides. There’s seldom six metres between the front/rear of outfits butting up to the hedge, even on Club Sites. Warwick Racecourse has pitches like this. We parked out from the hedge on the pitch we had, while the one the other side of the hedge was bang up against it.
Pleased to hear no one hurt, and hopefully the occupants won’t have lost anything of sentimental value. Fingers crossed insurance will look after everything else.
I think it’s good to share where there’s no one hurt or can be identified. People learn by watching, so it might just prompt others to think and be wary. Well done to the Meathop staff.
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lost anything of sentimental value
A very good point indeed TDA, these items can often be of greater worth than all the outfit.
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"As said thankfully there doesn't seem to be anyone hurt or further damage to neighbouring outfits, and it has to be said thank goodness for the (often attacked) fire spacing rules."
so very true Corners , there was a similar incident at the site in Bol Nuevo Spain Feb this year, one MH caught fire and the whole row caught fire at least 10 units burned beyond recognition, no spacing in Spain just pack em in
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I'd just like to say hats off to the staff. We have monthly fire drills and practise worst case scenarios just in case something like this occurs. Just like first aid training you don't forget it when you need it. The stressful part is afterwards while doing the paperwork and asking yourself if you could have handled things better. Then helping the unfortunate ones to sort things. Glad no one was hurt.
And people ridicule the white markers and safe distancing we always adhere to!
JK
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This video is a sober reminder of how quickly things can escalate when something goes wrong. Be it changing a gas bottle, not unwinding a cable reel, having a bbq or dozens of other things, there is potential danger in everything we do.
I saw a similar occurance at Grafham Water where an electrical fault caused a fire in a departing caravan. The wardens reacted in a calm, measured and professional manner, and had the caravan isolated and fire put out in moments. Having stayed at Meathop last Autumn, I have no doubts that the wardens there reacted in the same professional way.
Thank goodness this happened on a CAMC site, and not on some that I've been to where the emphasis is on packing as many units in as possible.
My thoughts go out to the owners, who must be utterly devastated.
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Just glad that the owner(s) managed to get away physically unhurt, but feel for their loss. The spacing between units seems to have done what it is meant to do and it looks as if no other vehicles were damaged.
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I agree with your sentiment NTH regarding nobody being hurt however I'll be suppressed if the adjacent units survived undamaged. With the heat generated by the burnt out motorhome the acrylic windows and the side panels will have been under tremendous stress. I once witnessed the side panel of a static caravan irreparably damages by a gas BBQ that was about 500mm away.
I hope everyone concerned is adequately insured.
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I don’t think you mean 500mm 🤔
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Yes, half a metre, about 18 inches. it was a gas BQQ with a lid that was down over the grill plate and in use for about 30 minutes. The radiated heat severely damaged the side of the static van.
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If you read the comments attached to the video the owner of the car and caravan opposite the fire did comment generally about the video, actually thanking the poster for putting it online but made no mention of any damage to his own outfit which I imagine he might have done?
David
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In that case, what on earth was the user doing siting the BBQ that close to the static and how is it relevant to this event with other vans at least 6m away? See DK's post.
Let's just be glad there were no injuries sustained. Any unit damage can be sorted one way or another and, at the moment, it’s pure speculation.
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It's a shame there are some people with such a negative mindset that they choose to pull a tragic event like this to pieces. A few seconds into the video you can hear sirens and that van was 3/4 gone which meant at least 8 to 10 minutes had passed before the chap doing the video saw it. We can always learn from a video like this and maybe make judgements but being in that situation is quite shocking for everyone.
As Ttda said above, the fact the van was on a corner pitch probably meant there was more space between adjoining outfits so less chance of radiated heat damaging them.
I know what those staff are doing today, thankfully we have a support system in place for such events.
JK
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JK
I agree with you, and have clearly watched the video more carefully than some. As you say the unfortunate motorhome was well alight before the vlogger noticed it, he was some way from the fire. There were also people standing around near the fire and it is unimaginable that one of those would not have called the emergency services or at the very least alerted the site staff well before Bob started filming.
I think perhaps time to close this thread, the video will remain for those that want to watch it but I am not sure further discussion is needed?
David
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