Boat Safety Scheme - Fire Portal

Fire Advice Portal

Boating is usually fun and relaxing, but even the most experienced boater should prepare for the worst.

Whilst fire is unlikely on a boat that is well maintained to minimum safety standards, it is a grave concern to boaters who can be caught unawares or in a situation where escape is difficult.

This page has links to advice on preventing fires and how to plan for fire breaking out on a boat.

BSS recommends the installation of smoke alarms on boats - Aug 2007.

Any owner of a boat with overnight accommodation is strongly recommended to install a smoke alarm in the best possible place and to press the test button routinely.

Guidelines for installing smoke alarms on boats - Aug 2007

What is the best type of smoke alarm to buy for boats? Where is it best installed? Does it need much looking after?

All these questions are answered in these Guidelines.

Consider having a Boat Fire Safety Check. Boat Fire Safety Checks are on offer for free by participating fire and rescue services. The 'Check' was developed by Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service in partnership with the BSS. It is carried out by fire-fighters and it isn't a BSS examination. It is more of a guided chat with the owners about how they use boats, appliances and cabin space. Fire prevention advice as owner and fire-fighter 'go through' the boat together.

This is a link to local fire and rescue service details, region by region

What should you do if fire breaks out?

There's information on making a fire action plan in the BSS and Fire Kills Leaflet, Avoiding Fire Afloat. It has more advice on cutting the chances of fire happening and some useful contacts for further information.

Fire extinguishing and escape - What sort of fire extinguishers are necessary for inland waterways using the BSS requirements? What's the minimum necessary fire fighting capacity? How can you check the condition of extinguishers on your boat? What standard should my fire blanket meet? What's the BSS advice on the very minimum recommended fire escape facilities?

All these questions are answered in Chapter 6 of the BSS Essential Guide (2005).

Most boaters will never experience a fire on a boat, but on average there is at least one boat fire a week reported. Some are deliberate and some are accidental. The 2006 report for statistics of incidents related to boat safety recorded by the BSS for are available here.

From our incident records, it is clear that solid fuel stoves are a significant cause of fires, carbon monoxide and injury to boaters. Their use on boats is ever popular and they provide a cosy, 'dry' heat at reasonable cost and they are nice to see. But they need to be treated with respect.

They need good installation, routine maintenance and safe operation. We have an article which we hope solid fuel stove users will find useful to keep themselves safe.

Watch out for over firing of the stove. It can easily happen when a stove begins to 'race', usually because of an increased draw up the chimney. This can lead to super heating which may ignite nearby wood, cloth and other combustible. It can also lead to chimney fires which may spread to the rest of the boat as well.

The BSS has had a number of reports of fires and near incidents of fire caused by domed decklights or bulls eyes focusing sunlight on combustible material in the path of the magnified rays.

Such decklights have been used for hundreds of years, but in a few cases boats are at risk. So the BSS is advising owners of boats with bulls eyes fitted simply to be vigilant and check for any signs of heat or fire damage.

The Fire Protection Associaton Report - 'Smoke Alarms for Recreational Boats' July 2007.