Health, Safety and Emergencies FIRE SAFETY


Most fires on cruising boats can be traced to fuel leaks or electrical failures. Regulations require sailboats to carry up- to-date fire extinguishers, and for your safety, be sure you know where they are located and how to operate them.


Combustion occurs when three ingredients are present.


Fuel feeds a fire. On a boat this fuel can be diesel, gasoline, propane, fiberglass, or wood, among other things.


FUEL


The flame from a match or the spark from a short circuit provides the heat to ignite a fire. Insulation on wire prevents short circuits.


THE FIRE TRIANGLE


AIR Air feeds a fire.


Remove air to smother it. Certain fire extin- guishers discharge chemicals that take away the oxygen.


HEAT


Multi-purpose Dry Chemical A, B, C is a universal extinguisher


which can be used on all fires.


TYPES OF FIRES


(Type A) Ordinary combus- tibles (wood, paper, cloth, rubber, and many plastics)


(Type B) Fuel fires EXTINGUISHERS


Water, and multi-purpose Dry Chemi- cal extinguishers labeled A,B,C or Halon labeled A can be used.


Carbon Dioxide (CO2 ), Dry Chemical


or Halon extinguishers can be used to extinguish fuel fires. Never use water for fuel fires except alcohol stoves.


(Type C) Electrical fires CO2


, Dry Chemical and Halon extin- guishers can be used even when electric- ity is on.


FIRE SAFETY TIPS


• Fire extinguishers should be located away from most likely sources of fire.


• The galley and engine room are the most likely places to have a fire.


• An engine room fire can be a multi-type fire. CO2


,


dry chemical, or Halon extinguishers should be discharged through a small opening.


• Aim extinguishers at the base of the flames.


• Make sure the fire is out; flare-up can occur.


• Do not touch the discharging horn of the CO2


extinguish-


er, as it will be extremely cold.


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