Safe Boating

How to handle potential fires while boating

By Roz Butziger
Posted 8/17/16

No one expects a fire on board, but you and your family should be prepared so you could minimize the problem and keep safe. First of all, what causes boat fires? Cooking is one hot spot. Lighting up the grill in the cockpit can cause a flare up. Most

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in
Safe Boating

How to handle potential fires while boating

Posted

No one expects a fire on board, but you and your family should be prepared so you could minimize the problem and keep safe. First of all, what causes boat fires? Cooking is one hot spot. Lighting up the grill in the cockpit can cause a flare up. Most marinas have grills you can use, and there are quite a few new models of electric grills in various sizes for sale. It is wise to install a smoke detector in the galley area. Actually, it is better to hard wire it in since batteries tend to corrode quickly on a boat. Fire needs three things – fuel, heat and oxygen. Remove any one and the flame goes out. That is why smothering a fire with a blanket can work. You are removing its source of oxygen.

There are different types of fires and different ways of extinguishing them. Class A fires are fueled by wood, paper, cloth etc. A pot holder can catch fire, for example, and the flames can spread to curtains. Water will extinguish this type of fire.

Class B fires are fueled by gas, diesel fuel, oil or grease. Certainly you can prevent many of these fires by checking for fuel leaks. On a PWC (personal water craft –jet ski) remove the seat to look for any evidence of leaks in fuel lines. On your boat, before you leave on your trip, smell the bilge, and if you detect any gas odor, do not start your engines. Check carefully, and then run your blower for four minutes. A Class B fire would be spread dangerously if you tried to use water to extinguish it! Use a Class B fire extinguisher.

Class C fires are electrical. Always check for frayed wires. Be careful not to cause a spark by dropping a tool on your battery. If it touches both terminals it could cause a short circuit. Don’t use water on a Class C fire. It could result in electrocution. Dry chemical extinguishers can be used on all classes of fires. Generally any fire extinguisher has a pin that has to be removed before it will work. After you pull it out, point the nozzle at the base of the flames and squeeze the handle, sweeping from side to side. It lasts only about eight seconds. You need to get your extinguisher recharged after each use.

While you are putting out the fire, everyone should be donning PFD’s. Remember to keep them readable available. You should have a fire drill periodically at home, and you need to do this on your boat also. In an emergency situation, the lights may not work. Can everyone locate and put on their PFD’s in the dark? Try it. Have your family do it.

The best way to deal with fire is to prevent it. So, should this scare you away from boating? Of course not! Actually the majority of boat fires are from off boat sources such as garage, shed, or barn burning with the boat inside or next to it, or a marina fire. Nevertheless, you want to prevent and know how to deal with a possible fire on your boat. Be prepared.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here