Boat Fire Safety
Yesterday morning we had two boats destroyed by fire in the marina. The likely cause was an electrical heater place on one of the boats in preparation for winter storage. We were lucky the fire department responded so quickly, two boats were burning and third was starting to smolder. We yarded the boats immediately with concerns for sinking and environmental damage. Both owners had insurance which helped with the loss.
Boat owners need to be careful in winterizing their vessels. I see trouble every year with boat in storage. Most problems are caused by heating issues like oil stoves, electric space heaters and heat lamp. Talk to your harbormaster or boatyard manager about fire safety standards for their facility. I have an article posted on boat winterizing and upland storage that might be helpful.
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Labels: Alaska, Boating Safety
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posted by Harbormaster at 13:51
7 Comments:
Electric heaters are a major cause of house fires as well. I don't know what it is about them that lull people into a false sense of security. They are dangerous and need to be handled much like any other heating element, with extreme care.
I know someone who had a fire due to a gas stove on a boat - nasty - worse than Guy Fawkes!
And here I thought that owning a boat would be an easy thing. Plunk it in the water, pay your dock fees, take it out for a spin when you feel like it...
Guess that, like everything else in life, even boats come with great responsibility.
Thanks for teaching me a little detail about boats and their care.
Wow! I never thought much about fires on boats. Interesting reminder. I'll have to tell my brother - who is a boat owner.
Thanks!
Hi
You’ve been tagged
http://taliamana.blogspot.com/2006/11/five-things-i-do-to-help-me-feel-more.html for the blog chain 'five things people don't know about me'
Talia
You’ve been tagged for the blog chain 'five things people don't know about me'
Talia
Interesting problem; I think small heaters are to blame for a lot of fires but never thought about them on a boat!
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