boat fires

UK. Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service urges boat owners to heed fire prevention advise Photo: Yacht on fire   Monday, 26 June 2006 Loretta Spridgeon: Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service is urging boat owners to heed simple safety guidelines to help protect them and their boats from the risks of fire this Summer. Watch Manager Paul Christopher of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Community Safety team said: “An onboard fire can cause serious damage, burns and even death. Many boats carry flammable fuel, petrol and oil, leading to rapid fire, explosions and intense heat. Boat owners should have the correct firefighting equipment aboard and know how to use it in an emergency. “It is important that you remember to maintain any firefighting equipment. Lack of proper maintenance may render extinguishers ineffective in the event of a fire,” he added. Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service also offers the following advice if you are refuelling your boat: do not smoke; extinguish any naked flames; wipe up all spills ; leave room in tanks for fuel expansion; check bilges for leakage and fuel odours, and ventilate until fuel odour is gone, before starting engines; never refill portable fuel tanks in the boat; take them ashore for filling and wipe off any spillage before replacing them aboard. Fuel-related fires can also start when a boat is cruising. These fires generally result when some component of the fuel system starts to leak and vapours trapped in the vessel’s bilge are ignited. Boat owners should regularly inspect and maintain fuel systems and avoid using temporary or stop gap solutions to fix leaks. Other causes of fire include: engine backfiring in air laden with combustible vapour; hot exhaust pipe igniting adjacent combustible materials; spontaneous combustion of oil rags in badly ventilated compartments; a spark caused by static electricity during refuelling; short-circuiting and overloading of the electrical system, smoking materials. Remember, that to avoid potential fire hazards all fuel systems, electrical systems and gas systems should be correctly designed, installed and maintained by qualified persons. If fire breaks out, you must act quickly: have everyone ready to leave the craft and get them off the boat as soon as you can; call the Fire and Rescue Service – they will need your location, so use landmarks if you can; turn off all gas cylinder valves and close any fuel system valves that are safe to reach; better still, disconnect and remove the cylinder to a safe place. Or, if you really have to, drop it over the side then, if you are confident and consider it safe to do so, tackle the fire using the extinguisher; remember that even small fires spread very quickly, so if your efforts are not working or if you have emptied the extinguisher, get out, closing the doors as you go; keep your head low; smoke and fumes kill many more people than flames do – keep checking you’re not in danger; remember that the risk of accidents happening is greater when alcohol has been consumed. For further advice on how to enjoy the Summer safely, contact PSC 01455 557877 or email paul@pscfiresafety.com