Caravans, RVs and Lithium Batteries: A Fire Safety Guide for the Road

A modern caravan can carry more lithium than most houses: a house battery bank, e-bikes on the rack, a portable power station, drones, phones and a tray of tool packs. Most of it will never cause a problem. The trick is making sure the one that does isn't sitting next to your bed.

What recent fires show

A fire at a Bundaberg dealership destroyed two caravans. Queensland Fire Department investigators found a failed lithium-ion battery next to a mattress to be the cause, while the Caravan Industry Association of Australia noted battery incidents in caravans remain relatively uncommon (The Grey Nomads, 2024a).

In South Australia, a family travelling around Australia lost both their 4WD and caravan at a campground near Whyalla. The owner, an electrician, suspected a lithium battery kept in the car to power a fridge, and urged other travellers to carry a fire blanket and extinguisher where they can reach them (The Grey Nomads, 2024b).

The fitted system is rarely the only battery

Discussion of caravan fires often turns into a debate about house battery chemistry. That misses the point. A properly installed house bank with a battery management system and correct fusing is one battery. The e-bike packs, power banks and tool batteries charged inside the van are many more, often on cheaper chargers, often next to bedding. An incompatible or substandard charger can overcharge a battery and raise the fire risk (London Fire Brigade, 2024).

A checklist for the road

• Have the house battery, DC-DC charger and inverter installed by a qualified installer, with fusing at the battery.
• Charge e-bikes and power stations outside under the awning, while you are awake, never next to the bed.
• Keep spare packs and power banks in a containment bag when they are not in use.
• Don't leave batteries baking in a closed van or tow vehicle in the sun (Tasmania Fire Service, n.d.).
• Mount an extinguisher by the door and keep a fire blanket where you can reach it from outside.
• Fit a working smoke alarm and test it before every trip.

For caravan and holiday park managers

Parks see guests charging e-bikes and scooters at cabins and powered sites every night. A simple charging rule in the guest information, plus an extinguisher, blanket and containment bag at the amenities block and office, covers most of the risk. Fire Rescue Victoria crews now attend almost one lithium-ion battery fire each day in that state alone (Fire Rescue Victoria, 2024). Talk to our Business & Bulk team about equipment for multiple cabins or sites.

General guidance only. Fire blankets and containment bags contain a fire and buy time; they do not extinguish thermal runaway. In any battery fire, get clear and call Triple Zero (000). Our extinguishers are certified to EN 3-7:2004+A1:2007 and are supplementary to your statutory fire safety equipment.