Originally Posted by b18cyacrx

This may be off the subject a little but has anyone heard of a portable ever catching fire and if so what brand and what was the outcome?

Willy Parson Ninja Caught fire; Ask him about details sometimes.

I traded a couple of smaller units for a 4 ht; omg It gives my kero a run for it's money. I love my propane heaters. I have always had a love for rooms full of steam; no better way to clean imho.

Originally Posted by rjfdube

Willy Parson Ninja Caught fire; Ask him about details sometimes.

Rickie, just so folks don't get the wrong idea, the fire didn't start in the Ninja, it was in his van when a mechanic caught the van on fire trying to loosen a nut with a torch.

Like I said didn't know the details; man it was ruined from the pics I have seen.

Unfortunately, HX systems are not immune. As Duane already pointed out, a fuel leak, fed by the slide-in's fuel pump can be the culprit, as well as having something combustible fall onto a hot exhaust, or an electrical problem.

I personally think if an operator follows correct operating procedures and does regular checks/maintenance (replacing old hoses, etc.) the likelyhood of a fire would be almost nonexistant.

Its really common sense. You don't throw gas on an open fire, so keep the tanks out of the vans & trailers, mount them outside.

I've used oil and propane fired machines for 22yrs. Its not the machine, its not the burners its the person running them...PERIOD!

The ONLY problem I've had is the idiots filling the tanks, the bleed off the propane while filling and STUFF the tank, causing the bleeder to go off once in awhile. If they stuff one of my tanks over 80% I make them bleed it off and re-credit me for the other 20% they over filled. I now fill my own tanks at the propane fueling station per the OWNER, because their OWN people can't seem to get it right. My techs fill theirs as well.

On a side note, and I'm sure you were looking for fire damaged vans Rob, but the second photo down (small one) is one of my local competitors and if I remember right that was GASOLINE induced fire not propane, but I'll call him and ask its been awhile, I was only 5 blocks away in the same neighborhood, just didn't stop, I'm sure they felt embarrassed.

Originally Posted by Vinnie

Are all those fires propane or are some HX systems as well. Or is a HX system fire proof.

The vast majority are propane.

Don't know where you get your information Rob.

I've been hearing for years that the main source of truckmount fires is gasoline.

(Just ask Bill Bane)

Gasoline is far more dangerous than propane for various reasons.
Such as propane is heavier than air not gasoline.

People are just more conditioned to using gasoline.

Even with propane the main problem would be getting flammables too close to the unit. The same as with a heat exchanger or fuel oil.

They don't flame up and propane has several shutoffs and a thermal switch.

Just as safe as the water heater in millions homes.


BTW: The pic Rob found was not a carpet cleaning van.

Originally Posted by rugslayer

Hey Rob: With regard to the last fire picture you posted: Why is it that rather than put the fire out the photographer took the time to capture the moment with a snapshot!!!!???

Maybe he was fed up with it and decided to throw on a few hot dogs.

Insurance companies hate propane in a truck for a reason;


Van Fire Sparks Blast; Three People Injured
Orange County | IN BRIEF / HUNTINGTON BEACH
April 01, 2003|From Times Staff Reports
A carpet-cleaning van caught fire in front of a Huntington Beach apartment building Monday, causing an explosion that injured three people.

Battalion Chief Frank Mead, a spokesman for the Huntington Beach Fire Department, said the explosion occurred about 2 p.m. when the fire ignited a propane tank inside the van as the carpet cleaners worked in the 5100 block of Heil Avenue.
One resident and two carpet cleaners were taken to hospitals with first- and second-degree burns to their faces, arms and legs, according to Mead. None of the injuries, he said, was life-threatening...

Originally Posted by Rob Allen

Insurance companies hate propane in a truck for a reason;


Van Fire Sparks Blast; Three People Injured
Orange County | IN BRIEF / HUNTINGTON BEACH
April 01, 2003|From Times Staff Reports
A carpet-cleaning van caught fire in front of a Huntington Beach apartment building Monday, causing an explosion that injured three people.

Battalion Chief Frank Mead, a spokesman for the Huntington Beach Fire Department, said the explosion occurred about 2 p.m. when the fire ignited a propane tank inside the van as the carpet cleaners worked in the 5100 block of Heil Avenue.
One resident and two carpet cleaners were taken to hospitals with first- and second-degree burns to their faces, arms and legs, according to Mead. None of the injuries, he said, was life-threatening...

Did you read that Rob. It said a fire (something else started the fire) ignited the propane tank INSIDE the van. The propane tank is NOT supposed to be INSIDE the van. It is to be mounted under the van, OUTSIDE!

And where did you get this tidbit of information - Insurance companies hate propane in a truck for a reason

I have used propane exclusively for 26 years in my truckmounts, and have NEVER had an insurance company ask me whay type of heating system the truckmount uses, nor am I charged an extra premium for using propane heating systems by the insurance company.

Please, before you post something, make sure you can back it up with several reliable news sources. There are a lot of people on these boards referring to LP tanks as bombs. I can see why they would think that.

Don't add fuel to the fire, my friend.

I actually had a propane fire inside my van many years ago. As you can imagine, I was VERY cautious before deciding what truckmount heat system to continue with. My investigation agreed with Duane and Bob - Propane was the safest heat source at that time! (Not really any great HX units I found in the late 1980's.) So even having experienced a propane fire, I felt comfortable continuing to use propane. Gasoline fires from fuel line or fuel pump problems were much more common.