Boating Fire Safety » Yachts & Boats

Fire safety while boating is essential both when boat is moored and in open waters. Boat fires are less common than fires on land. But when they do occur, they can have destroying consequences. Boats are often far away from the land, so boat fire may result in frighting consecuences. Since it takes longer for fire-fighters to arrive at an incident, a fire can totally destroy a boat and everything on it for that time.

Boat that is well maintained to minimum fire safety standards has higher degree of boating fire safety and fire is unlikely on it. But it is a great concern to boaters who can be caught unawares or in a situation where escape is difficult.

Boating is usually fun and relaxing, but even the most experienced boater should prepare for the worst.

Read some advices on boating fire safety and how to plan for fire breaking out on a boat.

1. Any owner of a boat with overnight accommodation is strongly recommended for boating fire safety to install a smoke alarm in the best possible place and to press the test button routinely. Smoke alarms can be used as part of boater's fire action plan to aid detection and ultimately escape from fire.
Early detection of a fire can help safe a boat before a fire gets out of control or give everyone aboard the chance to escape without being overcome by smoke or poisonous fumes, especially if people aboard are asleep and don't know of the advancing danger. Boating fire safety - installing smoke alarm

Boating fire safety - installing smoke alarm

Fire safety officers say it's fairly certain that many fatal boat fires can be prevented by an effective smoke alarm.

2. Before buying a smoke alarm for your boat, you should determine what is the best type of smoke alarm exactly for your boat. There are a variety of models with different features to choose from. Currently there are no standards for alarms for boats specifically. Some think optical alarms are best for boats. There's a lot of different places on your boat, some places are good for putting smoke alarms and some are not. Anyway, think carefully where you fit it so they can wake people up. The quantity of smoke alarms you need to install depends on the size of your boat. A boat would be fire safe if all it's areas are not further than 5m from an alarm.
Smoke alarms are cheap, and readily available in stores. They are easy to fit and maintain.

3. Owner of a boat should consider having a Boat Fire Safety Check. Free Boat Fire Safety Checks are offered by participating fire and rescue services. They are free, you don't have to pay for them. This fire safety check was developed by Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service in partnership with the Boating Savety Scheme (BSS). Fire-fighters carry out Boat Fire Safety Check and it is not a BSS examination. It looks like a guided chat with a boat's owner about how he use the boat, appliances and cabin space. Boat owner receives fire prevention advice as he and fire-fighter walk around the boat together.
Fire crews can give advice on all aspects of boating fire safety and tell you about smoke alarms, cooking, fuel storage, flares, life jackets, and general water safety.

Boating fire safety check

4. Make a fire action plan. You can make the difference between safe escape and disaster for you and your crew by being prepared. Make sure that you know your boat and make a fire action plan with everyone in the boat. For each sleeping position plan the best escape route and, if possible identify a second way out. Fire extinguishers should be sited where they can be at hand to help you escape. Know how to safely isolate the electrical, fuel installations in the event of a fire or gas leak. Try on practice your fire action plan and let everybody on your boat familiarize themselves with it in case of boat fire.

5. What should you do if fire breaks out on the boat? Hopefully it will never happen to you, but if it does - act quickly. Boating fire safety advice is to make everybody leave the boat as soon as it's possible. If you are offshore, notify the Coastguard by radio, make a Mayday call, or display a distress signal. Turn off all gas cylinder valves and close any fuel system valves that are safe to reach. Stop the boat, disconnect and remove the cylinder to a safe place, or, if you really have to, drop it over the side. Then use fire extinguisher if you consider it safe. It's safer to stay outside.

Remember that you have greater fire safety while boating when alcohol has NOT been consumed.
Most boaters will never experience a fire on a boat, but on average there is at least one boat fire a week reported in one state of the USA. Some boat fires are deliberate and some are accidental.

Go boating – Stay safe