Guidelines for Health and Safety on Board Small Fishing Boats

Extinguishing a fire – principles.

Fire needs three components to keep burning; Heat, Fuel, Oxygen.

A fire goes out when one of these components is removed.

Land based fire brigades fight house fires by trying to remove the HEAT. They cool the fire with lots of water. Flooding a vessel at sea is not a good idea, because the vessel will become unstable with free surface water and flooding.

We can still use hoses for cooling at sea, but have to use them very carefully. We can also try to remove OXYGEN and FUEL to put the fire out.

FUEL can often be isolated (say to a main engine) however it takes time to take affect and there are normally lots other flammable things also burning that keep the fire going.

At sea the primary method that has to be relied on to put fires out is suffocation, or removal of the OXYGEN. This of course is done as well as isolation of fuel supplies and cooling.

Fire Fatalities

Most people who die in a fire suffocate from inhaling smoke or fire gases.

Approximately twice as many people die in this manner that those who are burnt.

Vessels have a vast range of materials that become toxic when burnt. These include paint, cables, mattresses and even the contents from a used fire extinguisher. The fumes from such materials as well as the smoke are quickly concentrated within the confines of any vessel.

Dense smoke and toxic gases mean there is not much time to actually fight a fire on a smaller vessel.

You must act fast. If there is too much smoke, try to seal the compartment and get out!

Putting a fire out

On a small vessel fires must be fought quickly but sensibly. You can fight most fires on small vessels if you follow these steps --> Click here to view.

Attempt to put out the fire

• Use a hose, extinguisher, fire blanket or smother the fire. See section on fire fighting equipment to find out how to use hoses, extinguishers and fire blankets correctly.
• Crouch down low in case fireball develops and to minimise smoke inhalation.
• If you can’t extinguish the fire, GET OUT

Stop oxygen supply to fire – Close down compartment.

If you can not extinguish the fire, you must act quickly to close the compartment. Your goal is stop all air getting to the fire so the oxygen supply will run out.

The following steps are needed:

• Turn off all ventilation fans to the compartment.
• Close all doors and hatches to the compartment.
• Close all ventilation trunk flaps to prevent air getting through.
• Look for smoke escaping through any gaps or holes in bulkheads. Use fire blankets or inflammable material to stuff the holes into them.

If you stop the smoke getting out and the air getting in the fire will suffocate relatively quickly.

Stop fuel supply to fire.

Fuel supplies for the engines are usually outside the Engine Room.

If there is a fire in the Engine Room, you might need to isolate the fuel supply. This decision must be made by the skipper.

When you shut fuel supplies to the main engine or auxiliary it takes some time to work. It will have an impact on vessel manoeuvrability, speed, power and fire-fighting and pumping capabilities. The skipper has to decide if shutting off the fuel will cause more problems for your vessel.

Activate fixed fire fighting systems.

Some vessels may have a fixed fire fighting system fitted in areas where fires often occur – e.g. the engine room and Galley. Most of these systems are CO₂ (carbon dioxide). Some of the older vessels have systems called Vaporising Liquid (BCF, Halon) fitted. They work by stopping the oxygen supply to the fire.

If there is a fire in a compartment with one of these systems fitted, USE IT.

Before you operate the system:

• Make sure all ventilation is stopped and openings closed. This will keep the extinguishing agent in the compartment.
• Ensure everyone is out of the compartment.
• Shut down as much machinery as possible.
• You only have one shot at it so get it right first time.

Prevent spread of fire.

Some fishing vessels are built of flammable materials such as wood. Closing down a wooden compartment may not stop the fire spreading. On vessels built of steel, remember that steel conducts heat and the paints and linings on the other side can start to ignite.

You must monitor heat in surrounding compartments and, if they are hot, start Boundary Cooling

• Monitor temperature of surrounding bulkheads with the back of the hand.
• Wet to cool hot spots with damp sponge or hose.
• Use water sparingly.
• Cover all sides.
• Monitor flooding from boundary cooling water and activate pumps accordingly.
• Don’t stop until walls are continually cool and you are satisfied the fire is out.

Re-entry into compartment

Don’t re-enter the compartment too soon. Allow it to cool down and keep monitoring the temperature of the surrounding bulkheads and the deck above. Wait twice as long as you think is necessary!

When you decide to enter through the door or hatch of the compartment stay clear of the opening in case the rush of air re-ignites the fire.

Allow some ventilation before you enter, as there may be toxic gases within the compartment.

Move in to the compartment and dampen down hot spots. Breakdown burnt rubble and ensure it is completely cool.

Re-flash watch

Fires often re-ignite. Check every hour after a fire has been extinguished, until you are sure it will not re-ignite.