Two days ago I had a fire on board. My much loved Shipmate Pressure Kerosene stove burst into flames. Fortunatly the only damage was to the stove and my ego. It seems there was a small leak going to the oven and it got the oven insulation wet. After repairing the fitting I lit the oven. As the heat built white smoke was coming from the many vents around the box. I assumed because kerosene is light that it would evaporate/ burn out of the insulation. At some point I heard a wosh sound and turned to see what apeared to be 12 tiny flames . As there was nothing close to burn I figured it would be a matter of a few minutes till the exess kero burned off. So I let it burn while i stood buy with a wet towel and a fire extinguisher. Then it started getting hot enough for the flames to draw air turbo style and all of a sudden I had 12 blow torches going. At this point I turned everything off and covered the fuel line with a wet towel. I attemted to put the flames out with the extingusher but it had no effect as the fire was deep inside. I then poured water on the stove surface to reduce the heat which worked. Then I dropped a wet towel across the whole thing and smothered it.Well the cabin was covered with fire extinguisher stuff and smells like kero fumes. I took the stove, tank, lines, Spare parts and anything related to the the stove and put them on the dock. I promptly drove down to Norfolk and bought a 2 burner Origo. I have to say it is a nice little stove and I picked up a bunch of space that the shipmate clogged. I used the new stove last night for the first ime to perk a pot of coffee ( the test) and it cooked faster than the Shipmate did. I will be leaving Nov.3 for a one month cruise around the bay and am happy to have something new on board that works........
Michael Stephano
"Mia Xapa"
CD 30 Ketch #22
mundo@visi.net
Fire on Board
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Walt Bilofsky
Fighting Fires and Boating Safety
Michael -
Congratulations on saving your boat. You were first lucky and then smart. Using water to drown a fire involving flammable liquids like kerosene or alcohol, or a grease or oil fire, is usually the worst thing one can do. The burning liquid will happily float on the water and spread the fire. Water on a grease fire can splatter it all over. In this case, it sounds like you used enough water to cool the stovetop but not enough to flood inside where the kerosene was, or perhaps there was not enough kerosene outside the fuel system to spread by water.
After the fire extinguisher failed, the wet towel was perfect. Although you couldn't get to the fire, you were able to put it out by denying it oxygen.
When there's a fire on board, you're often a few seconds and one mistake away from losing your vessel and possibly your life. For example, if there's a fire in an enclosed engine room, opening the hatch for a fire extinguisher can give the fire the oxygen it needs to go instantly out of control. (Install a fireport or an automatic extinguisher system.) Bottom line: read up on boating fires and how to fight them, have plenty of fire extinguishers, and plan ahead.
Since I insure with BOAT/U.S., they mail me a quarterly newsletter <a href="http://www.boatus.com/news/seaworthy.htm">Seaworthy</a> which contains articles on avoiding damage to your boat (or in other words, how not to collect from their insurance policies). They run articles on fire prevention and fighting, as well as avoiding collisions and sinkings, with plenty of examples of real incidents to learn from. The newsletter is also available by subscription. I've learned a lot of ways to make my boat safer and recommend this publication highly.
How many of us have actually used a fire extinguisher? Or fired a flare? A couple of years ago I put on a safety program at our yacht club. Members were invited to bring their outdated flares and old fire extinguishers. We went out on a spit and set off the flares over the water. (We notified the Coast Guard first, and broadcast on Channel 16 that we were doing tests.) The fire department was invited, and brought an engine. (In case a flare strayed, we were prepared.) They set up a fire in a metal pan and we took turns putting it out with our extinguishers. An extinguisher company came with their van and recharged the extinguishers, while we listened to a lecture by a marine surveyor on why boats sink. It was pretty interesting to see the difference among the various flares, and see what an extinguisher feels like and where to point it.
- Walt Bilofsky
bilofsky@toolworks.com
Congratulations on saving your boat. You were first lucky and then smart. Using water to drown a fire involving flammable liquids like kerosene or alcohol, or a grease or oil fire, is usually the worst thing one can do. The burning liquid will happily float on the water and spread the fire. Water on a grease fire can splatter it all over. In this case, it sounds like you used enough water to cool the stovetop but not enough to flood inside where the kerosene was, or perhaps there was not enough kerosene outside the fuel system to spread by water.
After the fire extinguisher failed, the wet towel was perfect. Although you couldn't get to the fire, you were able to put it out by denying it oxygen.
When there's a fire on board, you're often a few seconds and one mistake away from losing your vessel and possibly your life. For example, if there's a fire in an enclosed engine room, opening the hatch for a fire extinguisher can give the fire the oxygen it needs to go instantly out of control. (Install a fireport or an automatic extinguisher system.) Bottom line: read up on boating fires and how to fight them, have plenty of fire extinguishers, and plan ahead.
Since I insure with BOAT/U.S., they mail me a quarterly newsletter <a href="http://www.boatus.com/news/seaworthy.htm">Seaworthy</a> which contains articles on avoiding damage to your boat (or in other words, how not to collect from their insurance policies). They run articles on fire prevention and fighting, as well as avoiding collisions and sinkings, with plenty of examples of real incidents to learn from. The newsletter is also available by subscription. I've learned a lot of ways to make my boat safer and recommend this publication highly.
How many of us have actually used a fire extinguisher? Or fired a flare? A couple of years ago I put on a safety program at our yacht club. Members were invited to bring their outdated flares and old fire extinguishers. We went out on a spit and set off the flares over the water. (We notified the Coast Guard first, and broadcast on Channel 16 that we were doing tests.) The fire department was invited, and brought an engine. (In case a flare strayed, we were prepared.) They set up a fire in a metal pan and we took turns putting it out with our extinguishers. An extinguisher company came with their van and recharged the extinguishers, while we listened to a lecture by a marine surveyor on why boats sink. It was pretty interesting to see the difference among the various flares, and see what an extinguisher feels like and where to point it.
- Walt Bilofsky
bilofsky@toolworks.com
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Michael Stephano
Re: Fighting Fires and Boating Safety
You are correct. People need to use these items to understand how effective they are. I have 20 years of volunteer fire service and the many schools and training that goes along with it. In this case the kerosene was not on the stove but deep inside the insulation that acted as a wick. By cooling the surface with enough water I was able to reduce the temperature that was causing the fire to feed its self.Michael -
Something that I became aware of as soon as I released the extinguisher was that the chemical was air born and I realised that I was breathing it. In the enclosed confines of the cabin the combination of fumes and chemical were high. I was fortunate that I understood this and got out as quickly as possible. Chemical fumes are one of the most dangerous asspects of any fire.
In retrospect I believe that I would have extinguished the fire sooner and taken the whole project to the dock to straighten out in more controlled suroundings.
The whole episode ended with my re affirmed respect for fire and its consequenses.
Michael Stephano
"Mia Xapa" CD30 Ketch #22
mundo@visi.net
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Don Carr
Re: Fighting Fires and Boating Safety
I agee with Walt..just as lifeboat drills are run weekly on ships. Firefighting techniques should be practised once a year, probably during fitting out time. We won't even get into the man overboard drills..how many of us do that routinely with our crews? Practise makes perfect or at least avoids funerals.Michael -
How many of us have actually used a fire extinguisher? Or fired a flare? A couple of years ago I put on a safety program at our yacht club. Members were invited to bring their outdated flares and old fire extinguishers. We went out on a spit and set off the flares over the water. (We notified the Coast Guard first, and broadcast on Channel 16 that we were doing tests.) The fire department was invited, and brought an engine. (In case a flare strayed, we were prepared.) They set up a fire in a metal pan and we took turns putting it out with our extinguishers. An extinguisher company came with their van and recharged the extinguishers, while we listened to a lecture by a marine surveyor on why boats sink. It was pretty interesting to see the difference among the various flares, and see what an extinguisher feels like and where to point it.
- Walt Bilofsky
carrd@erols.com
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George Pendergast
Re: Fighting Fires and Boating Safety
Be real careful with outdated flares. Most manufacturers print a caveat about using after expiration. Eye protection, heavy gloves and a coat and pants covering all exposed flesh are common sense. We have done many of these demos and highly encourage same under careful supervision. A demo of a couple of solas ones is also an eye opener for those buying the "three for $10.00" variety.
GAP
comodone@massed.net
GAP
Michael -
I agee with Walt..just as lifeboat drills are run weekly on ships. Firefighting techniques should be practised once a year, probably during fitting out time. We won't even get into the man overboard drills..how many of us do that routinely with our crews? Practise makes perfect or at least avoids funerals.How many of us have actually used a fire extinguisher? Or fired a flare? A couple of years ago I put on a safety program at our yacht club. Members were invited to bring their outdated flares and old fire extinguishers. We went out on a spit and set off the flares over the water. (We notified the Coast Guard first, and broadcast on Channel 16 that we were doing tests.) The fire department was invited, and brought an engine. (In case a flare strayed, we were prepared.) They set up a fire in a metal pan and we took turns putting it out with our extinguishers. An extinguisher company came with their van and recharged the extinguishers, while we listened to a lecture by a marine surveyor on why boats sink. It was pretty interesting to see the difference among the various flares, and see what an extinguisher feels like and where to point it.
- Walt Bilofsky
comodone@massed.net