Caravan fires – they’re more common than you think

By Brendan Batty

In Western Australia, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has responded to 119 caravan fires in the last five years, with 34 in the 12 months to September 2025. Looking to the east, and according to Fire and Rescue NSW, back in 2021 there had been 355 fires in the previous five years. That's more than one a week. And in Queensland, in the five years to June 2025, there were 341 caravan and camper trailer fires attended to by the Queensland Fire Department.

You might have read about some of them in the news. In January 2024, a caravan exploded in Pinjarra, injuring a man inside.

In April that same year, a caravan fire caused a bushfire in the surrounding Oakford area, requiring 50 firefighters to douse the blaze. Reports suggested it was an issue with a lithium-ion battery.

In January this year, a caravan parked on a verge at Soldiers Point, NSW, caught alight thanks to a faulty gas fridge, destroying the van, although no one was injured. In September, a man died in western NSW after his caravan caught on fire. Many, many more go unreported.

What happens when a caravan catches fire?

A caravan’s lightweight constructions and high fire loads can allow fires to spread very quickly.

The now-defunct Caravan & Motorhome magazine demonstrated this in a series of articles and videos in the mid-2000s. With the help of Fire and Rescue NSW, they set a caravan on fire and recorded what happened.

The fire, which was lit on the caravan's bed, quickly engulfed the small van in smoke, overwhelming the internal cameras within a minute as temperatures reached critical limits.

Eventually, internal temperatures reached 600°C, and once the fire really took hold, it very quickly left the chassis and parts of the frame a charred mess. Gil Schott, the magazine's editor at the time, estimated occupants would have had 30 seconds to evacuate if they'd been inside.

What are the main causes of caravan fires?

Figures from NSW show that kitchen or cooking fires are at the top of the list of caravan fire causes – much like household fires. In houses, around 50 per cent of fires are cooking-related.

Second on the list is electrical fires caused by a malfunctioning device, overloaded circuits or poor wiring. The incidence of fires as a result of lithium-ion batteries is also on the rise, but not necessarily the house batteries which power your caravan - it's mostly batteries from devices, e-mobility equipment or other electrical appliances. Other causes include damage from heaters, cigarettes, candles, bushfires, campfires and even arson.

How can you prevent caravan fires in the kitchen?

Fire departments across Australia are consistent in the advice they give to caravanners about fires, and top of that list is to fit sealed, photoelectric smoke alarms with at least 10 years' battery life. In fact, both New South Wales and Victoria already legislate the fitment of smoke alarms in any of the areas where people sleep (including an enclosed annex) for any caravan in either state (even if you're travelling through). Queensland will require the same from 2027.

Currently, no such law exists in Western Australia, but most new vans are fitted with smoke alarms. For WA caravan owners, DFES advises that all caravans should have a well maintained smoke alarm, fire extinguisher, and fire blanket. Owners should also ensure gas and electrical equipment is in good working order and secured, have an escape plan, and ensure caravan appliances are approved and safely vented.

Given that so many fires start on cooking appliances, taking the normal precautions is wise. Don't leave stoves or ovens unattended, and keep other flammable items away from cooking areas.

If a fire does start, turn off the gas or power (if it's safe to do so) and use your fire blanket or extinguisher to put it out. Don't use water that can spread oil fires or cause hot oil to splash elsewhere.

Where you have gas appliances, shut off the gas when not in use, especially if there's a pilot light, such as in a gas fridge. Never travel or fill up with fuel while a gas pilot light is on.

You can further reduce the risk of fire by turning the main gas tank valves away from your van and ensuring there are no leaks by spraying soapy water around the valves and fittings and ensuring there no bubbles form – which would indicate a gas leak.

If you are upgrading, replacing or fixing gas appliances or 230-volt electrical appliances or outlets in your caravan (like a stove), you need to have a licensed plumber or electrician do the work.

How can you prevent electrical caravan fires?

As the electrical sophistication of caravans has increased, along with the DIY-ability of so many caravan and camper trailer projects, there's a real risk for things to go wrong.

Always have 230-volt electrical work carried out by a licensed professional and consider the same for 12- or 24-volt projects. All your circuits should use correct gauge wire and be properly earthed, isolated and fused. There are also requirements for how and where batteries are installed, as well as how electrical systems must be set up.

Assuming your caravan is wired correctly and safely, refrain from overloading power boards or power points. If you have a 230-volt supply (either from an inverter or caravan park power), you are probably limited to 10- or 15-amps total power draw, so stacking appliance after appliance on a power point can be dangerous. Heaters can also be risky, so don't leave them unattended and have plenty of space around them.

As a significant part of modern power usage in caravans is charging devices with lithium-ion batteries, it's important to be diligent here. Always use the correct charger for the device, as the use of incorrect chargers is a major cause of battery-related fires.

Most fire jurisdictions also encourage consumers to avoid cheap or unregulated e-mobility equipment (bikes and scooters, etc.) as well as other cheap electrical devices with lithium-ion batteries (including tools and toys). They also advise not to leave devices on charge longer than necessary, and always correctly dispose of batteries that are showing signs of damage. Damaged lithium-ion batteries are those that show signs of swelling or bulging, leaking, cracks, dents, punctures, or crushing.

How can you prevent other common caravan fires?

Many of the other common causes of fire in caravans result simply from flames or heat build-up. Through winter, when heaters and campfires are much more common, both can be a risk, but for different reasons.

In the small confines of a caravan or camper trailer, where light timbers, canvas and plastic walls are common, an improperly ventilated heater can cause a fire, especially if left unattended when sleeping or not in the van. Never leave heaters (not including reverse cycle air conditioners) running when you're not there or sleeping, and make sure there is enough space around them, and that nothing can fall on them (particularly towels or drying clothes).

Also, if you are using a heater, ensure your caravan or camper's 230-volt system can handle the load.

Campfires are a similar but distinct risk. Even if your campfire is a good distance away from your van, never leave the fire unattended, particularly overnight or while you're away, never make them bigger than they need to be and make sure they are completely extinguished before you head off to sleep.

Finally, any other open flame is dangerous in a caravan. Avoid candles or incense burners, smoke outside (if you smoke) and don't leave matches or lighters anywhere kids can reach them.

What to do if there is a fire in your caravan?

In the event there is a fire in your caravan, hopefully you've been alerted to it very quickly by your caravan's smoke alarm, and you have time to respond. Remember, the number to call for emergency services is 000.

It's important to have a fire plan in place. Everyone in the caravan should be familiar with it and how to evacuate in the event of a fire. As caravans and camper trailers often only have one door, you need to be familiar with which windows or hatches are also possible to escape from.

For a cooking-related fire, if the fire is still small and you have familiarised yourself with the use of your fire blanket and extinguisher, you can use either to put out the fire, then call 000. Ensure the gas and electricity have been turned off (if safe to do so). Dry chemical extinguishers are most suitable for wood, plastic and paper fires, as well as flammable liquids and gases.

If there is an electrical fire, DFES advises turning off the electricity (if safe to do so) and evacuating. You should also avoid handling any electrical device that is on fire. Do not use water on electrical fires, and remember that carbon dioxide extinguishers (red with a black band) are the most effective for electrical fires.

If you have an electrical device that is overheating or smoking, and it is safe to do so, take it outside and place it well away from any other flammable material, then call 000. Small batteries can be placed in a tub of water or hosed from a safe distance. Fire blankets and CO2 or dry powder extinguishers can also be used to prevent the spread of fire, but may not be able to extinguish a lithium-ion battery fire. Then call 000.

One final point to remember is that no caravan is worth putting yourself in harm’s way to save. If you are not certain you can extinguish a fire quickly and safely, evacuate to safety as your first priority. Then call 000.