One boat fire a week

IN ISSUING a reminder for boaters to make sure they have a smoke alarm fitted in their boats, Rob McLean of the Boat Safety Scheme tells us that an average of one fire a week is recorded.

However, he adds that some are 'near fire' incidents, with most being minor, and people are unharmed, but all fires have the potential to become more serious events. And he points out that smoke alarms will save lives.

Timely reminder

Rob goes on to warn us:

"We are issuing a timely reminder, a New Year's resolution message almost, but a little more urgent. We are reacting to news of a boat fire a few days ago that has been backed up with what is in our experience a rapid investigation and we are grateful to the local navigation authority officer and the boater for their help and support.

"It concerns a very close shave. We could have pulled several messages out of this one incident, but the key one, and most pressing, is the advice to boaters to install a smoke alarm, test it routinely and never disable it.

"While for any one person, a fire is probably a rare event, on inland waterways this year, we have recorded around one fire or ‘near-fire incident' a week."

Most are minor and people are unharmed, but all fires have the potential to become more serious events. Smoke alarms will save lives.