A 64-year-old woman has been found dead following a caravan fire north-east of Melbourne.
Police say they were already at the Goulburn Valley Highway Caravan Park in Thornton for a welfare check when the van became engulfed in flames on Tuesday afternoon.
As officers attempted to make contact with the woman, the caravan became engulfed in flames. Fire crews were called and brought the blaze under control.
The remains of a woman — believed to be a resident of the caravan — were found inside.
An arson chemist has examined the scene and at this stage there is nothing to indicate the fire was suspicious.
Homicide detectives are investigating the death with oversight from Professional Standards Command, which is standard practice when a person dies in police presence.
While the details of this particular incident are unclear, there is certainly a general awareness among grey nomads of the potential danger of fire at caravan parks or camping grounds.
With caravans and motorhomes commonly having to park up in close quarters, the thought of a blaze sweeping through is understandably a worrying one for many travellers.
Earlier this month, there was a large blaze at a caravan park at Nerang on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
And last year, there was a fire at a caravan park at Cobram in Victoria.
Back in 2019, 18 caravans were destroyed when flames swept from van to van at the Goughs Bay Caravan Park near Lake Eildon in Victoria.
In 2o17, a man was taken to hospital after a fire at a caravan park in Gerroa on the New South Wales south coast.
In September 2016, two people were taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation after a blaze at a caravan park in Grafton, New South Wales.
And earlier that year, a 63-year-old woman died when fire tore through her caravan at the Price Caravan Park on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula.
And at the end of 2015, two caravan fires within days of each other brought the deadly dangers into the spotlight.
Whilst these tragedies are obviously emotionally painful for all family/friends of the victims it would be worth knowing the causes of these fires in order to prevent similar such tragic incidents. Any chance of a general issue with discussion on the causes of caravan fires, thanks
The photos tend to show that the caravan body is completely consumed by the file, leaving only the not so readily burnt items remaining.
Are there any regulations about the fire rating of materials used in caravan manufacture?
I do just not mean the flammability, but gasses generated when the materials burn.
Also are there any regulations about the need for emergency exits from the ends of the caravan if the fire prevents use of the door which is usually towards the centre of the van?
Passenger ferries in Europe needed complete refits after the fire in the MS Scandinavian Star. A lot of the deaths were the result of gas poisoning from burning materials used as lining throughout the ship.
If the coroner’s court investigates caravan deaths are they investigating whether the construction materials could have contributed to the deaths?
Answer to your question re toxic materials; Just about every synthetic material used in residential areas today will emit toxic gasses at a fairly low temperature and particularly in the presence of heat overload such as fire from any source. Seek answers from your local fire services body for more info. Also many van owners tend to block the lower vents in their accommodation to retain warmth with the resultant danger of a buildup of unburnt LPG vapours which are heavier than air and gather at the lower level of its enclosure.
I don’t think emergency exits are practical. Caravan space is at a premium already.