Fire Emergency on a Sailboat – Prevention, Crew Actions, and Communication

Fire Emergency

Prevention:

1. Never charge any electronic devices without someone maintaining a valid watch.
2. Never charge electronic devices while sleeping.
3. Never walk away from a lit stove, range, or grill.
4. Always turn off propane solenoid to extinguish flame.
5. When using the exterior grill, turn off propane at valve to extinguish flame.
6. Do not run dryer unless someone is on board to monitor.
7. Inform Captain immediately when a flammable liquid or substance is spilled.

Crew Actions

1. Announce and alert all personnel on board the vessel.
2. Determine source of fire.
3. Reduce air supply, if possible, by closing hatches, doors, and/or port holes as appropriate.
4. For engine room fire, do not open access – insert nozzle of fire extinguisher into fire port.
5. Maneuver the vessel to reduce the effect of the wind as appropriate. Put fire downwind.
6. Apply extinguisher agent as appropriate (Fire Blanket, Fire Extinguisher, Engine Room Fixed)
7. If possible, jettison burning materials overboard.
8. If fire is not contained and extinguished, prepare to abandon ship on the upwind side.
9. If fire is electrical, turn off inverter and batteries.
10. If fire is electrical, inspect all wiring and maintain 24 hour fire watch in case of re-ignition.

Communication

1. Communication: if alone, activate DSC and/or EPIRB.
2. Communication: if needed, sound danger signal five short blasts on horn repeatedly to alert vessels in vicinity.
3. Communication: if needed, deploy flares.
4. Communication: warn nearby vessels by VHF or any necessary means to ensure their safety and give them time to evade.

Location of Fire Equipment / Extinguishers / Fire Blanket / Fire Ball

1. Hanging lockers?
2. Galley?
3. Salon?
4. Lazarette?
5. Fire blanket in galley?
6. Location of fire port?

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