Gypsy,

You ask the right questions. With all of the RVs on the road and in campgrounds, you rarely see any major problem like fires. I'd say for the beating they take going down the road, RVs are very safe. It's usually a careless action or poorly maintained equipment that seems to cause the most damage.

Here's what I have seen or heard about in regards to open flames and propane.

Bad news- If you have a big enough propane leak an open flame will set it off.
A friend was having trouble with her oven. A repairman came to her campsite and removed the oven to take it back to the shop. He failed to cap off the propane line for the oven. Later in the evening, It was cold so our friend went outside to turn on the propane so the heater could be used. When she opened the door to go back inside, an explosion occured. She wasn't badly burned but it took several months for her to heal up.

Good news- there are valves you can buy that will shut off the propane if a leak is detected. Most RV's come with sniffers (similar to a smoke detector, usually mounted near the floor) that will set off an alarm if propane is detected.

Our first RV had propane lights that worked just like a coleman lantern. Plus you had to use a match to light all of the gas appliances.... we always had some sort of open flame going. We often used candles for light to save propane and battery.

If you're careful and have the right detection equipment, propane is relatively safe.

I've actually seen & heard of more fires started in RV's by curtains catching on fire from candles or the occaisional stick match head that breaks off while striking. I remember watching my mom try to light the stove in their travel trailer one night to boil water. She struck a match and the head of the match made a flaming arc right over to the nearest curtains and they caught fire. My mom reached over and snuffed out the fire. Only a small hole in the curtain showed any evidence of what happened.

Another curtain story, friends were on a campout and they left a candle burning near an open window to light their steps when they returned to the RV. They went over to the campfire to join their camping group. Someone noticed the curtains had caught fire. An extinguisher was used to put out the fire. Just a little damage to the wall, the curtains were totaled.....

Make sure you have a propane detector and a auto shut off valve and you can put your mind at ease.

If you want and decide a candle for your RV get one of those little burrners that is electric or the no flame candles that yu can get at Camping World.
southwestjudy

One thing which you touched on with the open window comment is that open flames in confined areas with no ventilation are very dangerous.  We hear every year about someone suffocating in a tent or camper when they close them up and have a lantern or some other small flame burning.  Just a caution to be safe out there.