[C38] Boat Fire

Tue Jul 27 12:16:36 EDT 2010

Maybe because I have been a volunteer firefighter since the early 70s 
and served as a Chief for 17 years...   I have five extinguishers on 
board.  Three are ABC (stern lazzarette, pilot's berth, vee berth) and 
two are "C" for electric fires (mounted next to engine compartment door 
and in vee berth).  I picked these locations as they are where I would 
most likely be if something went wrong...   The ABC extinguishers are 
the hose type as no extinguisher should be tilted more than 20 degrees 
from vertical as they have a supply tube that runs to the bottom and the 
compressed propellant sits above.  Tipping any further just blows the 
carbon dioxide propellant!  The hose allows you to apply retardant in 
all those hard to reach areas.
Also, these type of extinguishers work by covering the burning material 
and denying oxygen.  That means you should shoot the extinguisher at the 
base of the fire and not the flame.  They will knock the fire down, but 
will only last a short while (I can talk for a long time on the "Fire 
Tetrahedron").   While the flames are temporarily down, you need to try 
to eliminate the fuel source (disconnect batteries, shut down engine, 
turn off propane, turn shutoff on fuel tank,  remove potential flammable 
materials such as varnish, acetone).  And it is a real good time to get 
your crew on deck with your emergency abandon ship gear (they of course 
will all be trying to help or see what is happening).  Just about all 
smoke on a boat is harmful or toxic or flammable just waiting for it's 
flash point!

Something to keep in mind.  The extinguishers need to be regularly 
checked for proper pressure and they need to be banged a bit to ensure 
the extinguisher material has not settled and cached in the bottom.  If 
they have not been regularly maintained... get rid of them!  Unlike all 
the old flares we keep around, you cannot afford the time it takes to 
discover the extinguisher is not working!

Chuck Finn
Mighty Quinn,  #114
Great Lakes

On 7/27/2010 3:59 AM, Joseph Launie wrote:
> Steve,
>     When you get your new extinguishers (at least 3) get the large 
> size. Make sure they are ABC extinguishers. For some reason no one 
> seems to get taught about extinguishers (we call them first aid 
> units). A Class A fire is burning wood and textiles (your curtains 
> etc.), Class B burning oils and greases, Class C electrical fire. You 
> never know what fire you get so be ready for them all.   In my last 
> power boat, I had automatic Halon bottles in the engine compartment. 
> Halon puts out fire by eliminating air so is contraindicated in people 
> spaces but great for engine compartments. Water is ok for class A 
> fires but very bad for B  and C. It spreads burning oils and kills you 
> if you put it on a Class C electrical fire.  Class D fires are burning 
> metals - no extinguisher - just run like hell. Joe
>
> On 7/26/2010 11:36 PM, Steve Smolinske wrote:
>> Seems to be the month for fires,  I just had a situation on our power 
>> boat, a searay 21 open bow ski boat.  I was going to use it this 
>> weekend for pulling Jr. High kids at church camp and took it out for 
>> the first time to make sure it started and all worked as this was the 
>> first use since winterizing it last year.  About a mile from the dock 
>> I noticed the temp was higher than normal so I came to a stop to find 
>> smoke billowing out from under the engine cover along with some 
>> crackling noises.  quick action and I do mean quick emptied two fire 
>> extinguishers.   Hand held flare ignited and two jets skis and a 
>> power boat arrived promptly and the police shortly there after.  Not 
>> sure of the damage yet as I need to get the boat to the dealer.   Im 
>> passing along this post for general information learned from the 
>> experience.
>> First the coast guard requires one fire extinguisher, I had two for 
>> good measure.......let me tell you that was not enough, it is amazing 
>> how quickly (2 seconds maybe) they discharge.  After the second one 
>> was expended it was a horrible feeling to still see smoke, hear 
>> crackling noises and realize I had no more extinguishers....On 
>> Peregrine I have two I will be picking up at least three more, and 
>> not the small ones.
>> My flares were current and came in handy, again I have a the required 
>> amount, on Peregrine we have many more
>> We also have Vessel Assist coverage with BoatUS...for the $50 or so 
>> dollars that it costs I will save multiples of that tomorrow as we 
>> have the boat towed to the boat ramp.
>> We all prepare for the unexpected never expecting it to happen to us, 
>> when it does you cant be over prepared.
>> Steve
>> #312 Peregrine
>> Seattle
>>
>>
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>
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