Fire safety at sea

Last summer Coastguard assisted a number of boaties who found themselves facing a fire on board their vessel. In some cases the fire was dealt with by the crew, but many other incidents required the crew to abandon their boat and call for assistance from Coastguard.

The speed with which a fire can take hold can easily catch even the most experienced people by surprise. A Coastguard tutor and veteran SAR volunteer found himself in his dinghy, after narrowly escaping the flames that eventually destroyed his vessel. He only became aware of the fire when he opened a hatch to go below deck, and despite his knowledge and preparedness – he had several extinguishers on board – he was beaten back by the flames.

Fire can take quick hold on vessels of all sizes; earlier this year a charter vessel in Whakatane, with 60 people on board, burned to the waterline just one kilometre from shore. The intervention of locals and Coastguard vessels avoided a tragedy, but in both cases training and preparation were also key in ensuring lives weren’t lost.

Coming into summer, Coastguard Northern Region is offering boaties the opportunity to learn more about the science of fire, how to prevent or fight it, and tips on the safety equipment boat owners should consider. The Fire Safety Seminar, being run on 28 September at the Auckland Marine Rescue Centre, also has a practical component that gives boaties the opportunity to use fire extinguishers and fire blankets on a blaze, in a safe and controlled environment.

Run by specialist fire safety officers, places on this seminar (cost $95) are limited – book online at http://bit.ly/CoastguardFireSafety