New Swift Select Catches Fire (1 Viewer)

Hellboy

Free Member
Nov 26, 2009
79
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Brand new 67'reg Swift Select van conversion catches fire...hope everyone got out safely...

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/w...hicle-fire-closes-13869996#ICID=FB-Wales-main

imageedit_17_7123251322.jpg
 

Lenny HB

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Oct 18, 2007
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Makes a change from the usual bonfire efigies.

Looks like it was burning from inside the cab /hab aera, electrical fault?
 

TheBig1

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Nov 27, 2011
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many many years! since I was a kid
thats a very energetic fire and looks like fuel or gas involved

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Feb 24, 2013
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that is a massive fire, looks like arson to me if it wasn't for the position on the road, but given that all the upholstery is fire retardant what on earth is burning so fiercely ?
 
Sep 16, 2013
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Looking at the shot at the end, looks like it started where the hab seats would be?

If so, electrical?

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Feb 24, 2013
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I wonder if they had any mods done involving wiring in that area? :(

now I know what I do about the D+ pillars which were under my seat o_O
 

Anthea M

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So sad to see someone’s pride and joy go up in smoke. I hope all are safe.
 
Sep 16, 2013
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Wondering if they possibly fitted Lithium Ion batteries.
They would be under the seat where the fire looks to have burnt hotter.
Here's a video of Li-On car batteries reacting with air after over charging:

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Feb 9, 2008
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Just a thought, a lithium on laptop battery has about the same amount of energy as a stick of dynamite. How much energy is in a lithium Ion leisure battery?
 
Sep 16, 2013
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Just a thought, a lithium on laptop battery has about the same amount of energy as a stick of dynamite. How much energy is in a lithium Ion leisure battery?

Not sure. A lot though :)

Pretty sure Tesla's use Lithium Ion, there a fair few videos on YouTube of what happens to them if the Battery goes.

When looking at new batteries for my van I looked at using Lithium Ion, before deciding it much to dangerous (in my opinion). I'll stick with Lithium Phosphate - far safer.

Not saying this fire was caused this way, just guessing, like I'm sure most are. Just the flames reminded me of the video I posted.
 

tonka

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There is a thread on Facebook Autotrail group at present where the Sargent control panel / psu has gone up in flames .
I know Swift use from the same supplier.. Wonder if there is any link.. :(
 
Jan 26, 2017
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Nasty...

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Minxy

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Looking at the shot at the end, looks like it started where the hab seats would be?

If so, electrical?
I think it's a Swift Select 184 so have just had a shuftie and that's the only thing in that vicinity that would appear to cause the damage to the side, there's nothing on the interior that would do it unless there was an item stored there by the owners or they'd had a second leisure battery built in under the half-dinette table.
 

canopus

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On a recent rally with another group, many of the attendees had 5 gallon fire buckets at the front of their vans. It struck me that a 5 gallon bucket of water would be absolutely no use at all against a fire of the magnitude of the one in this thread, particularly when gas and diesel are involved. :eek:
 
Dec 24, 2009
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LOL - it was a rule with some clubs who rally - my lady wife told the marshal on one such rally that if fire broke out in our van no way would she be trying to extinguish it by any means available anyway cos she'd just run as hard as she could as far away from it as possible!
 
Dec 12, 2010
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I was at a music festival a couple of years ago that allowed small open fires. We took our washing machine drum firepit and I filled a 3 gallon water bucket to sit next to it. Later the second evening, someone was letting off sky lanterns, one of them had barely taken off when it came down a set fire to a tent near us. I ran across with the water and put the flames out and we taped a bin bag over the damaged area to allow them to "carry on camping". I realise it wouldn't have done much to the conflagration pictured, but if you catch it soon enough ?
 

Theonlysue

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Not long enough!
I thought the fire buckets were more to throw over a person if alight rather than a van?

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Feb 21, 2016
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I recently bought a fire extinguisher for the Moho. I hope I never use it,and it probably wouldn’t be much good against a fire that has been going a while,but it helps me sleep better!
 

Minxy

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I never leave any ancillary electrical equipment turned on ... not phones, mifis, laptops, tablets, razor etc ... not at home or in the camper! There is always the risk with these type of things which have their own battery of developing a fault either in the unit or the charger itself ... ALWAYS turn them off especially at night.

Having been in a MH when there was a fire I can tell you it is NOT something you want to experience, although our fire wasn't cause by an electrical fault but a gas BBQ point fault. For anyone who wants to read about it, here's a link to a posting I made:

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/foru...-a-fire-extinguisher.60744/page-2#post-715424
 

Riverbankannie

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Mar 11, 2016
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I never leave any ancillary electrical equipment turned on ... not phones, mifis, laptops, tablets, razor etc ... not at home or in the camper! There is always the risk with these type of things which have their own battery of developing a fault either in the unit or the charger itself ... ALWAYS turn them off especially at night.

Having been in a MH when there was a fire I can tell you it is NOT something you want to experience, although our fire wasn't cause by an electrical fault but a gas BBQ point fault. For anyone who wants to read about it, here's a link to a posting I made:

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/foru...-a-fire-extinguisher.60744/page-2#post-715424
Have you got a link to your original thread please Mel @Minxy Girl
 

Puddleduck

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Jan 15, 2014
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I recently bought a fire extinguisher for the Moho. I hope I never use it,and it probably wouldn’t be much good against a fire that has been going a while,but it helps me sleep better!

We have two extinguishers in the van and one in the car. At the village bonfire and BBQ on Sunday someone hadn't correctly coupled up the gas supply to the BBQ. Our car extinguisher (powder extinguisher) put the resultant fire out quickly. Luckily no one was hurt and no damage done. Now we need to get a new extinguisher.
 

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