Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) is urging people to be cautious and to stay vigilant on their camping holidays. 

Camping and caravanning holidays are a great way of enjoying nature and the outdoors and Wales boasts a fantastic variety of camping sites.

In recent weeks MAWWFRS has attended a number of incidents involving tent or caravan fires.  Fires in tents or caravans can spread very quickly and can often block the only exit.

Home Safety Manager Wayne Thomas said: “Although camping is a fun way to spend your holidays, we highly recommend that you always stay vigilant. Tent material catches fire and spreads very easily. Keep fires and barbecues away from any tents or caravans and ensure they are used outside at all times.

“Also consider the risk of carbon monoxide fumes that may be given off the barbecues, when they are alight and while they’re cooling down.”

MAWWFRS is issuing a reminder on how to keep safe from fire during your camping holiday.

• Caravans should be fitted with a smoke detector and have the dry powder fire extinguisher located near the door - optical alarms are usually most effective.

• Turn off all appliances before you leave the caravan or go to bed.

• Don't leave children alone inside.

• Don't block air vents - if any leaking gas builds up you may fall unconscious and be unable to escape. Always keep the caravan ventilated. Ensure that air vents are clear - if air vents get blocked, it could be fatal.

• Never use a cooker or heater whilst your caravan is moving.

• Find out the firefighting arrangements on the camp site.

• Don't dry clothes over the stove.

• Keep children away from matches or lighters.

• Children should never be left alone in a caravan.

• Remove any litter and rubbish near the caravan to reduce the risk of fire spreading.

• We recommended that you have the following safety equipment for caravans: fire blanket, smoke alarm, dry powder extinguisher.

• Gas cylinders should be kept outside the caravan. Gas cylinders should be turned off unless they are designed to run continuously, and you should only change the bottle when they are completely empty.

• Never use fuel-burning devices inside the caravan (e.g. disposable barbecues, camping stoves, camping heaters, lanterns, and charcoal grills).

• Allow at least 6m spacing between tents and caravans and ensure they are away from parked cars to reduce the risk of fire spreading.

• Never use fuel-burning devices (e.g. disposable barbecues, camping stoves, camping heaters, lanterns, and charcoal grills) inside a tent. Visit our Carbon Monoxide Awareness pages for more information.

• Flammable liquids and Liquefied Petroleum Gas cylinders should be kept outside the tent.

• Oil burning appliances are not recommended.

• Never light a candle or have any other kind of flame burning apparatus in or near to a tent torches are much safer.

• Cook outside and away from the tent and keep cooking appliances away from the tent walls and never cook inside a small tent or near flammable materials or long grass; they can all set alight easily.

• Don't smoke inside the tent and keep any flammable material away from the cooking area.

• Make sure everyone knows how to put out clothing that's on fire- stop, drop, and roll.

• Make sure you know how to escape by cutting your way out of the tent if there's a fire.

More information on staying safe while on holiday can be found on MAWWFRS’s website.