Fire Emergency on a Sailboat – Prevention, Crew Actions, and Communication
Fire Emergency
Prevention:
- Never charge any electronic devices without someone maintaining a valid watch.
- Never charge electronic devices while sleeping.
- Never walk away from a lit stove, range, or grill.
- Always turn off propane solenoid to extinguish flame.
- When using the exterior grill, turn off propane at valve to extinguish flame.
- Do not run dryer unless someone is on board to monitor.
- Inform Captain immediately when a flammable liquid or substance is spilled.
Crew Actions
- Announce and alert all personnel on board the vessel.
- Determine source of fire.
- Reduce air supply, if possible, by closing hatches, doors, and/or port holes as appropriate.
- For engine room fire, do not open access – insert nozzle of fire extinguisher into fire port.
- Maneuver the vessel to reduce the effect of the wind as appropriate. Put fire downwind.
- Apply extinguisher agent as appropriate (Fire Blanket, Fire Extinguisher, Engine Room Fixed)
- If possible, jettison burning materials overboard.
- If fire is not contained and extinguished, prepare to abandon ship on the upwind side.
- If fire is electrical, turn off inverter and batteries.
- If fire is electrical, inspect all wiring and maintain 24 hour fire watch in case of re-ignition.
Communication
- Communication: if alone, activate DSC and/or EPIRB.
- Communication: if needed, sound danger signal five short blasts on horn repeatedly to alert vessels in vicinity.
- Communication: if needed, deploy flares.
- 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
- Hanging lockers?
- Galley?
- Salon?
- Lazarette?
- Fire blanket in galley?
- Location of fire port?

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