The potentially devastating consequences of fire breaking out in caravan parks have once again been highlighted by a terrifying incident in Victoria which saw 18 caravans destroyed.
Flames swept from van to van at the Goughs Bay Caravan Park near Lake Eildon, with authorities saying that at one point the fire measured 100 metres by 20 metres.
Incredibly, no one was injured in the inferno which left caravans little more than piles of twisted and mangled metal.
As well as the 18 vans completely destroyed, another 20 to 25 were damaged by smoke and heat, and six boats and one jet ski were consumed by the flames.
Country Fire Authority District 23 Commander, Trevor Ebbels, said it was fortunate the blaze was kept to one block of the caravan park.
“The brigades did really well to stop it where they did,” he said.
A number of trees in the park were impacted and are being assessed for safety.
A fire investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the fire.
This is not the first fire at a caravan park this year. Just last month, a woman was injured and four caravans destroyed after fire swept through a van park in Western Australia’s south west region.
When will the relevant Authorities see fit to set minimum standards for the occupancy of Caravans within these Parks to minimise such dangers, If only, before Persons are killed in such infernos…
I believe that in some states there is a required distance between Vans and buildings. I was told it’s 3mtrs in S.A. I haven’t followed up on that.
3mtrs would halve a caravan parks available sites.
I think this distance is controlled by councils.
No minimum distance in SA caravan parks as far as I’m aware. The last time we took our caravan out we had just enough room directly behind our caravan for my hubby to walk between us and the neighbouring van. We also had a large tent pitched along our off side close enough to almost touch from our window.
I notice that a lot of parks are getting up to standard with fire hoses etc but this re-enforces my biggest dislike of van parks—- feeling like a sardine, jammed in tight. That’s why I do Showgrounds etc where possible
Me too!
Our thoughts go out to those poor unfortunate vanners.
Boy!!!! this confirms why we love to bush camp.
Albeit that we could also be at risk with bush fires.
Agree with above comments re work place health and safety issues for Caravan Parks.
Travel safe.
Johnnie Rodgers
Wow, So when your own 12v system ‘lunches’ and it turns into Guy Falks night … I guess we can say “thats why people prefer the safety of van park”
Terrible, I hope everyone has been able to get out before anyone was seriously injured.
What a site it must have been to return and see all your properties destroyed, my heart go out to all of you.
Well said.
Parks or free camps or what ever, most of us use them all from time-to-time. Just feel so bad for those that have had the dream destroyed or at least delayed.
The picture seems to look like the caravans were ‘permanents’. Still sad but when you see some of the junk stored around these dwellings, its a wonder it doesn’t happen more often. Perhaps more safety inspections and regulations are needed.
AND “they” wonder why people like to freedom camp without of space.
Fire hoses around the park may help, depends on the type of fire tho.
We lived in a caravan Park in a northern suburb of Adelaide. Was always scared of fires. There were no fire hoses near our vans. I thought it would have been law to have fire hoses in a caravan Park