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5 Best Fire Extinguishers for Your RV

| Updated Jun 21, 2023

Protect your RV, yourselves, and nature with the best fire extinguishers for your RV. PLUS the one most recommended by RVers!

For most of us, traveling in our RV represents freedom and relaxation. But, accidents can happen. RV fires are real, and overwhelming damage can be prevented in many cases.

The following outlines ways to be prepared in case of a fire, as well as the best fire extinguishers for RV on the market today.

Hey, if you buy something through my links, I might get a little something-something as a thank you. No extra cost to you, promise! Read our full affiliate disclosure here.

Fire Prevention in RVs

smoke alarm
Do you have a smoke alarm installed?

Whether you have a brand new RV or a more vintage model, you want to be sure that it has safety equipment installed in case of a fire.

At the very least, you should have a smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detector, propane leak detection, and a fire extinguisher.

When you do regular maintenance on your rig, you want to make sure all detectors are working. All RV owners should also check expiration dates on fire extinguishers.

Fuel Tank Safety

A leak in your propane line or faulty propane regulator can present serious hazards.

As a safety measure, have your propane system checked by a professional. You may also want to install a propane leak detector.

Since you may or may not be able to smell a propane leak, be proactive about this dangerous fuel system.

Electrical Safety

Many RV fires begin with electrical appliances or equipment. What starts as a small fire can quickly get out of control.

That is why an electrical safety check should be part of your annual RV maintenance. Inspect wiring, and repair any frayed or aged wiring.

Keep electrical tape on hand for temporary fixes while on the road. Then seek out a professional as soon as you can.

Keeping Hazard Detectors Up to Date

As mentioned, every RV owner should have a carbon monoxide and smoke detector in their RV. But you can't stop there.

You must make sure they are working properly every year when you complete your RV maintenance. Test them out and check their batteries before your first big trip of the season!

This may seem like common sense, but you would be surprised by how easily safety detectors get overlooked in RVs. I recommend scheduling it in your phone's calendar with a reminder notification.

Fire Extinguishers for Your RV

fire extinguisher
How many do you need?

I get this question a lot: How Many fire extinguishers do I need for my RV?

To answer this question, it really depends on how many square feet your RV is. In the event of a fire, an extinguisher is your first line of defense. That means you want to have one close to where you are in the rig.

Most experts agree that you should have at least one fire extinguisher in the following areas: the bedroom, kitchen, and a well-labeled location outside. That way, you can put out a grill or campfire quickly if either get out of hand.

All Travel Companions Should Be Trained

It is a best practice to educate all of your travel companions as well as yourself.

Everyone onboard should understand how to use a fire extinguisher and should know an escape route in case a fire is too large to put out.

Types of Fires and Extinguishers

When it comes to fires and types of fire extinguishers, there are four main types:

Class A: Fires caused by combustibles like cloth, wood, and some plastics. A class A fire extinguisher puts out these basic types of fires. Most of them use a fine powder to put out the fire.

Class B: These are fires caused by flammable liquids like alcohol, oil, ether, gasoline, or grease (but not cooking oil or grease!). These are best extinguished by being smothered. However, many class B fire extinguishers are combined with class C extinguishers.

Class C: Class C fires occur within electrical wiring, equipment, and appliances. It is advised to use a fire extinguisher, not water, to put out this fire. This is a great option for fifth wheels, trailers, and RVs since it comes equipped with an electrical fire suppressant.

Class D: Flammable metallic substances like potassium or sodium cause class D fires. The class D fire extinguisher is the most complicated type of fire extinguisher and is likely not as necessary to have in your RV as the class C type of extinguisher.

Class K: Although there is not a class K fire, there is an extinguisher. This is a good type for your rig because they release a foamy substance that can put out kitchen fires caused by grease, fats, or oils.

Best Fire Extinguishers for Your RV

There are many fire extinguishers on the market for an affordable price. I have looked at different models and picked out the 5 top extinguishers on the market so you can make the right choice.

BONUS and UPDATE: According to our loyal readers ELEMENT is the fire extinguisher to check out! Even though it's not on our original list – you should certainly check it out.

1.Amerex B417T

Amerex B417T Fire Extinguisher
Amerex B417T

The Amerex B417T is a great overall fire extinguisher because it provides high quality at an affordable price.

It is one of the most popular fire extinguishers because it is compact, but still an excellent quality ABC dry chemical extinguisher.

It can put out different types of fires and comes complete with a solid mount to secure it to a wall in your RV.

2.First Alert REC5

First Alert REC5 Fire Extinguisher
First Alert REC5

The First Alert REC5 is designed to fight both flammable liquid and electrical fires. They're designed for marine, cars, and RVs. This particular model (REC5) is best for RVs.

This is one of the most compact portable fire extinguishers and comes with a bracket and strap for secure placement during travel.

3.H3R Performance

H3R Performance Fire Extinguisher
H3R Performance

The H3R Performance is the best choice for anyone concerned with the damage that a fire extinguisher substance might cause.

This model offers a non-corrosive extinguishing agent that will not damage metal when used. That is why many sports car enthusiasts love this brand!

4.Kidde FA110

Kidde Pro 210 Fire Extinguisher
Kidde FA110

The Kidde FA110 fights Class A, B, and C fires and is UL rated 1-A:10-B:C. It's suitable for use on most common household fires. Plus, it has a large capacity and is rechargeable.

It is also corrosion-resistant but will leave a dry residue.

5.Buckeye 13315

This compact 2.5-pound ABC dry chemical extinguisher provides peace of mind since it can put out different types of fires. In other words, it can provide you with greater control when fighting a fire.

It comes complete with all metal components and an excellent vehicle mounting bracket.

Bonus: First Alert EZ Fire Spray

Let me first clarify that this is not a fire extinguisher. You will not meet legal or insurance requirements for fire extinguishers with these aerosol sprays.

However, they may yet save you from a small fire getting out of control! These small aerosol sprays can be easily stored in a cabinet, or kept near your grill or campfire.

They're quick to grab and easy to operate. I recommend you get these in addition to a proper fire extinguisher.

Have you ever had to extinguish a fire while RVing?

Please share your experience in the comments! We'd love to hear your recommendation for the best fire extinguishers for your RV, too.

Mike Wendland

Published on 2022-06-01

Mike Wendland is a multiple Emmy-award-winning Journalist, Podcaster, YouTuber, and Blogger, who has traveled with his wife, Jennifer, all over North America in an RV, sharing adventures and reviewing RV, Camping, Outdoor, Travel and Tech Gear for the past 12 years. They are leading industry experts in RV living and have written 18 travel books.

10 Responses to “5 Best Fire Extinguishers for Your RV”

May 12, 2023at11:36 am, Alice Carroll said:

Thanks for also talking about how I should also look for the right compactness when getting fire extinguisher equipment. I’d like to find a good seller of such equipment because I plan to open a food truck business. Being able to to get the right safety equipment for that would be ideal in the long run.

[Link deleted]

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May 13, 2023at7:55 am, Team RV Lifestyle said:

Appreciate the feedback, Alice! Team RV Lifestyle

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June 02, 2022at12:11 pm, DIANE DAMMILLER said:

Left a pot on the stove for just a minute. I was standing just outside the door talking to someone when we smelled smoke. The window next to the stove was open also and the wind blew the gas flame. It caught something i had next to the stove on fire. Luckily, i had placed the thick wood cutting board up against the wall so it got a little burnt but we were able to put out the small fire and no damage to the RV. Our number one rule now is never leave RV if stove is on.

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June 02, 2022at4:29 pm, Team RV Lifestyle said:

So sorry that happened to you, Diane, and that is an excellent number one rule! Team RV Lifestyle

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June 02, 2022at7:21 am, Marc Crolius said:

I would add a fire blanket which I have.
I also have 2 additional extinguishers in RV and one in the tow vehicle
Have also seen but not purchased the fire “bomb” extinguishers that you just throw at a fire.
Maybe add those with additional research.

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June 02, 2022at4:27 pm, Team RV Lifestyle said:

Thanks for these excellent additional suggestions, Marc! Team RV Lifestyle

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September 07, 2021at8:39 am, Dalton Bourne said:

I just purchased a 2019 Yamaha Ex Sport and this First Alert’s Rechargeable REC5 RV fire extinguisher fits in the holder perfectly like it was made for it. I was also impressed by its design, which features a metal head,  a strap and bracket  for easy mounting. It is equipped with an easy-to-read, color-coded metal gauge. This fire extinguisher is 5-B-C rated. It uses sodium bicarbonate as an extinguishing agent for handling serious fires.

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July 01, 2021at2:46 pm, Bill Kline said:

As Anne said, the element extinguishers are perfect for RVs. Google and check them out.

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July 01, 2021at12:23 pm, Michael Schlags, Fire Captain (Retd.) said:

Minimum sized extinguisher should be larger than what was posted. Not having a large enough extinguisher will prove to be problematic. It’s really important to literally shake your extinguisher to keep the dry fire retardant fluffed up. Just think about stored flour. If you don’t mix it up, it cakes. This results in only the nitrogen used to charge the extinguisher being dispersed, no retardant. In my opinion, a 2A10BC is the smallest dry chem extinguisher you should have on hand.

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July 01, 2021at7:37 am, Anne said:

My husband is a retired Fire Fighter from Windsor, ON. We purchased an –
Element E50
Regular price $79.95 USD.
We live in Canada and the CDN PRICE was $125.

Reply

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