|
USCG
Auxiliary column
By James J. Rudy
The basics of having a fire
extinguisher onboard
 The
news
report from CNN: “MIAMI, Florida – A fire broke out Thursday on the
Jamaica-bound Star Princess cruise ship, and one person died of a
heart attack, according to cruise line officials.
“Two people suffered significant smoke inhalation and
nine others had ‘minor complications from smoke inhalation,’ said a
statement from Princess Cruises, which is owned by Carnival Corp.”
One of the scariest occurrences in life is an
uncontrolled fire. On land, people normally have some path to
egress: somewhere to run, some safe ground they can go to. But
throughout history, a fire aboard ship meant death, from the fire,
the smoke or drowning, since there is no where to run while on the
high seas.
A fire on a naval ship or a passenger ship, while
still a major cause of concern; is inherently less dangerous than a
fire on a recreational boat. First, allay some fears, all naval
vessels and passenger ships have trained firefighting teams. On
large passenger ships and naval vessels, there are members of the
crew whose sole duty is firefighting. However, your crew on your
recreational boat doesn’t have trained firefighters, unless you or a
friend are firefighters.
The first step in fire fighting is preventing the
fire. However, this topic is outside the scope of this article. The
second step is having proper fire fighting equipment, and on a
recreational boat, it is your fire extinguisher.
In the early 1960s, with the boon to recreational
boating and the rise in the overall accident and death rate, the
Coast Guard along with Congress took a hard look at safety for these
recreational boaters. It is during this time that all the federal
equipment requirements were initially formulated.
If you’re interested, take a look at the Code of
Federal Regulations, Title 46 Shipping, and Title 33 - Navigation
and Navigable Waters. These two titles contain all the federal laws
related to boating safety, as well as other aspects of boating and
the maritime industry.
Federal requirements mandate that all vessels with
gasoline/diesel engines carry approved fire extinguishers. The code
specifically states that the extinguishers must be labeled “Marine
Type USCG Type ___, Size ___, Approval No. 162.028__.”
This is very important. The reason for this
requirement on all fire extinguishers used in the marine environment
has to do with the safety tests and construction requirements built
into the code. Marine fire extinguishers have to pass tests related
to corrosion, salt spray tests, bursting pressure, vibration tests
among other requirements. Remember, most equipment on your boat
needs to be better made, and made from different materials than
those you’ll find in your home or car. The marine environment is
very, very tough and not very forgiving on equipment!
Specific requirements for recreational boaters
Fire extinguishers are required if one of the
following conditions exists: Your vessel has one or more inboard
engines; (2) you have closed compartments that store portable fuel
tanks; (3) your boat has double bottom hulls not completely sealed
or not completely filled with flotation materials; (4) you have a
cabin that contains closed living space; (5) you have closed stowage
compartments that contain flammable materials; or (6) your vessel
has permanently installed fuel tanks.
Just like the federal regulation about lifejackets,
if your lifejackets or fire extinguishers are not readily accessible
and verified as serviceable, the Coast Guard considers them not to
be there if you are boarded for a safety check. More importantly,
and not withstanding the legal ramifications, if you can’t get to
your life jacket or fire extinguisher when you need it, and if it
doesn’t work, then you’re in major trouble.
Placement of your extinguishers
There is no ideal place for a fire extinguisher
because each boat is of a different design and construction.
However, a few pointers may assist you in where you ultimately place
your extinguishers.
First, if at all possible, especially if you’re using
dry chemical extinguishers, is to mount the fire extinguisher
parallel to the deck. This way the chemical is constantly being
shaken within the container and doesn’t pack down. Should the
chemical pack down, the extinguisher won’t work properly.
Second, find a spot handy on the outside of your
engine compartment. Should there be a fire in your engine
compartment, you don’t want to open it to find your fire
extinguisher. That would add much needed oxygen to the combustion
triangle, and make your situation go from bad to worse.
Third, place an extinguisher by the helm. Someone is
usually always by the helm, especially when underway, and this make
it easy to quickly grab an extinguisher.
Fourth, place one by the galley, for obvious reasons.
Fifth, place one in each of the cabins. Again, should
fire break out while you’re in the cabin, it’s a grab and run
action.
Some final points
Create a fire plan. Decide where everyone will
muster. I know on a small boat you don’t have much choice, but on
the bow is the best place – which is as far away from the engine
room and gas tanks as possible.
When you have new guests on board your vessel,
besides showing them the amenities, you should also show them the
safety items.
Show them where all the fire extinguishers are, where
you keep your life jackets and how the radio works and how to call
for help. If you have a GPS, show them how to quickly find your
Lat-Lon.
Remember to practice your fire plan, as well as your
man overboard plan. These plans may someday save you or someone
else’s life.
Take your old fire extinguishers and actually
practice using them. Understand how they work, and how you fight a
fire should one break out. The last place you want to learn is when
there is a fire.
And lastly, take more boating education and safety
education courses and get an annual Vessel Safety Check. You can do
both through our area. U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 25 is
based out of Lakes Hartwell and Keowee. Our next safe boating class
will be held on Oct. 18 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Duke Energy’s
World of Energy Visitor’s Center on Hwy. 130 north of Seneca. Call
me at 864-972-2085 or e-mail at
jimrudy@bellsouth.net to
sign up for this class. Cost is $30 per student and a textbook and
CDrom are provided as a part of the course cost.
For additional information on
the Auxiliary and its activities on lakes Hartwell and Keowee,
contact Flotilla 25 Lakes Hartwell and Keowee at
http://a0700205.uscgaux.info/ or 864-972-2085.
James J. Rudy is USCGA public
affairs officer for Flotilla 25.
|
