Handling Fires

Fires do occasionally occur onboard vessels. The crew accurately extinguishes the majority of these fires, but some result in loss of life and/or damage to the yachts. To succeed in extinguishing a fire onboard, everyone must know what to do. How to use the fire-fighting equipment, how to keep it maintained & ready for use and most importantly, where to find it.

Onboard yachts, there are several means provided to combat fire, and they can be divided into two main groups: 

• Portable Fire Extinguishing Equipment, and
• Fixed Fire Extinguishing System.

Portable Fire Extinguishing Equipment includes fire extinguishers, fire hoses and nozzles, foam appliances and fire blankets. 

What are these?... Let's take a closer look.

Portable Fire Extinguishers

Portable fire extinguishers are placed at suitable locations onboard. In this way, they are easy to access and can be used immediately to extinguish a small fire. There are several types and sizes of portable fire extinguishers. The most common types are:

• Water fire extinguisher.
• Carbon dioxide fire extinguisher (CO2).
• Dry powder fire extinguisher.
• Foam fire extinguisher.

All portable fire extinguishers must be marked with approval. Each portable fire extinguisher must also show what type and amount of extinguishing agent it contains, for what class of fire it should be used and how the extinguisher is to be operated. The fire classes are divided into the following classes:

• Class A - Ordinary combustibles.
• Class B - Flammable liquids.
• Class C - Electrical equipment.
• Class D - Combustible metals.
• Class F - Cooking oil or fat.

(Class F is not yet officially in use, but the extinguishers can be seen onboard yachts.)

The most commonly used fire extinguishing agents are:

• Class A: Water, Foam, Wet Chemical and sometimes Dry Powder.
• Class B: Carbon Dioxide (CO2), foam, and dry powder.
• Class C: Dry Powder and Carbon Dioxide (CO2).
• Class D: A special powder named "Class D Powder."
• Class F: Wet Chemical (not in use, but can be seen onboard).

Fire Hoses and Nozzles

Through the fire mains, water is supplied to the hydrants placed at different locations onboard. Fire hoses and nozzles provide the water from the hydrants in the event of a fire. Fire hoses are stored near the hydrants and are readily connected. Connections on the hoses, valves and nozzles must be regularly tested, so they are always ready for immediate use. It is good practice to check that hoses and nozzles fit together. Do not use hoses for washing. When laying hoses, avoid cracks or sharp bends. After use, the hoses should be cleaned and dried.

Portable foam appliances are used to combat fires in engine rooms. The unit consists of an ejector-type foam nozzle capable of being connected to the fire main by a fire hose together with a portable tank that contains foam-making liquid.

Fire Blankets

Usually, a fire blanket is placed in or at the entrance to the galley. Depending on the type of vessel, there might be several fire blankets onboard. The blanket is suitable for extinguishing small liquid fires. Put on fire-resistant gloves, if available. If the fire blanket does not have specially protected handholds, fold back the top edge over the hands to protect them. Allow the blanket to afford protection by letting it hang in front of you. Do this by holding your hands up and apart. Hold the blanket to keep heat and flame off your face and body, but do not obscure your vision.

Advance and lay the blanket over the fire. If it is liquid fire, make sure the blanket is stretched so that it does not dip into the liquid. Do not throw the blanket down, as this may drive air into the fire and cause it to become more intense or cause a plume of flame.

Once the fire has been extinguished, do not remove the blanket until the previously burning item has had time to cool. Removing the blanket too soon may allow re-ignition. A person with burning clothes should be laid on the floor and wrapped in the blanket, but do not leave them within the blanket as this may trap heat and cause more injury.

Fixed Fire Extinguishing System

Fixed fire extinguishing systems are installed onboard for fire protection of various rooms and areas. The systems use different fire extinguishing media depending on the fire hazard in the room or area in question. There are several types of fixed fire extinguishing systems. The most commonly used are:

• CO2 systems.
• Foam systems.
• Water systems.
• Dry powder systems.

CO2 Systems

The extinguishing agent can be CO2 or inert gas. The system is used to protect larger rooms such as machinery spaces, but also smaller rooms, areas such as ventilation ducts from the galley and in paint stores. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is a gas that is acutely toxic at high concentrations and can cause injury or death. The CO2 reduces the oxygen content of the air in a space to less than 15% to extinguish the fire, at this CO2 concentration, human life cannot be supported. It is, therefore, essential that personnel leave the space as soon as the CO2 warning alarm sounds.

Foam System – High Expansion

Fixed extinguishing systems using high-expansion foam are installed for the protection of helicopter operation areas. The foam number must not exceed 1000, (that means one volume of foam concentrate will create 1000 volumes of foam) and the system should be capable of filling the largest space at a rate of at least 1 m in depth per minute.

Foam System – Low Expansion

Low-expansion foam systems are also used onboard. They are in addition to the fixed gas, high-expansion foam or water spray systems. The foam number must not exceed 12 (that means one volume of foam concentrate will create 12 volumes of foam), and the system should within five minutes discharge a quantity of foam sufficient to cover a depth of 15 cm of the largest single area over which oil fuel is liable to spread.

Water Systems

Fixed water fire-extinguishing systems may be sprinklers in the accommodation area. A sprinkler system may be either a wet pipe or a dry pipe system. The pressure of the water in a sprinkler system may vary. In recent years, high-pressure systems have been developed. The high pressure combined with special sprinklers results in a very fine water mist with a high cooling effect.

Wet Pipe Sprinkler System

In a wet pipe system, the pipes are always filled with water, and the release of water through the sprinklers is activated by heat (approx. 70°C). This system is used in accommodation areas.

Dry Pipe Sprinkler System

In a dry pipe system, the pipes are empty until water is supplied from pumps through the pipes to the sprinklers. This system is generally on car decks.

Fixed Local Fire Extinguishing System

A fixed local fire extinguishing system is used on some vessels as a secondary system in machinery areas protecting engines and other areas where oil leaks can cause a fire. The method may also be used for fire protection of cargo pump-rooms in tankers.

Dry Powder Systems

In gas tankers, a dry chemical powder unit is installed to combat fires on deck in the cargo area and cargo handling areas. It must be possible to distribute the powder to any part of the cargo deck from at least two monitors or hand-held hose pistols.