Boat Fire Safety Week 2015

Boat Fire Safety Week 2015 is taking place from 25th May to 31st May.

Each year sees on average, 20 fire related accidents and injuries on boats. Timed to coincide with the start of the leisure boating season, the national initiative will be promoting boat fire safety throughout the week. Its aim is to raise awareness of boaters on both inland and coastal waterways of fire risks, how to prevent fire and what to do if an incident occurs.

Alarms and Detectors

Smoke alarms detect the first signs of fire, alerting you and your crew and providing valuable time to get out of a boat safely – ensure you have smoke alarms fitted and test them regularly.

Death from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning on boats occur every year. Ensure you have a CO detector and check its suitability for marine use.

Have an Emergency Plan

Ensure you make an emergency plan that everyone on board is familiar with before you set out.

Consider the following when creating your emergency plan:

  • Ensure exits are clear and keys to hand.
  • Make sure people know how to close emergency valves and switches in case of fire
  • Keep a torch readily available
  • Don’t go to sea without a VHF radio. Ensure you have a charged up, hand held, waterproof one ready for use.
  • Have enough life jackets for everyone on board
  • Track your location so you can tell the emergency services where you are

Preventative Actions

Basic checks can minimise the risk of explosion, fuel or electrical fire. Ensure you regularly check your boat’s engine, fuel, gas and electrical systems.

  • Take extreme care when refuelling – ensure the engine and any cooking equipment is turned off
  • Prevent petrol vapour entering the boat by closing windows, doors and hatches and clean up leaks or spills immediately
  • Only carry spare petrol if necessary
  • Maintain your boats engine regularly
  • Ensure gas appliances are installed and maintained by qualified fitters
  • Store gas cylinders outside in a fire resistant locker
  • Routinely check all electrics and use only qualified marine electricians. Don’t overload adaptors and unplug appliances when not in use or when you leave the boat
  • Take extra care when cooking – never leave cooking unattended, keep the area clean of grease; keep the cabin ventilated to avoid CO building up and ensure all hobs have shut off or isolation valves
  • Do not use barbeques on boats – they can give off dangerous levels of CO
  • Check the flues of solid fuel stoves for signs of leaks or damages and avoid leaving the boat with the stove running. Only use the fuel recommended by the manufacturer.

 If there is a fire…

Do not fight a fire yourself. Get out, stay out and wait for the fire services. If you are inland or moored near to land move everybody off the boat and call emergency services.

If you are off shore move as far away from the fire on deck as possible and put on life jackets. Take a handled VHF radio onto deck with you to call for help and notify the coastguard by radio or make a mayday call/distress signal.

For more information on boat fire safety visit www.boatsafetyscheme.org/fire.

Look out for #boatfiresafety2015 and #boatfiresafety hashtags on Twitter.