Crews from Avon Fire & Rescue Service will be visiting people living on waterways across the Bath and Bristol area in the coming days in support of national Boat Fire Safety Week.
Photo courtesy of Avon Fire & Rescue
Firefighters in Bristol and Bath are visiting boat owners to provide information regarding fire safety on boats and to highlight the risks associated with carbon monoxide.
The activity supports the Fire Kills campaign’s awareness week which runs from Monday 29th May to Sunday 4th June.
Timed for the start of the boating season, firefighters will be promoting the advice of the Boat Safety Scheme which encourages the use of both smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in order to provide early warnings of an emergency.
To support the campaign crews will be visiting houseboats in Bristol harbour and along the River Avon in and around Bath.
Group Manager Matt Peskett from Avon Fire & Rescue Service said: “Although the number of boat fires in the Avon area is relatively low, when they do occur they can have devastating consequences.
“People are injured, and in some cases, killed, as a result of on board fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning.
“These vessels are often moored in remote locations that are difficult for us to reach; in many cases a relatively minor fire can cause the total destruction of a boat.
“Hopefully this week we can extend the Home Fire Safety work we have already been doing in thousands of homes across the area, and provide people living on houseboats with free smoke alarms and advice on carbon monoxide alarms which could save their life.”
Among the risks facing boat owners is the presence of liquid petroleum gas installations or petrol cans which may be in close proximity to ignition sources, such as candles or cigarettes. There are also dangers posed by solid fuel stoves, a familiar fixture on many narrow boats and barges.
Care should also be taken to ensure adequate ventilation is in place when burning fuel to prevent a build-up of carbon monoxide and other gases.
Graham Watts from the Boat Safety Scheme said: “In the past 20 years, 30 boaters were killed in boat fires and another 30 lost their lives to the highly toxic CO gas.
“It’s time everyone in the boating community said ‘no more’ – let’s end this unnecessary death and destruction.”
For more advice, visit www.avonfire.gov.uk or www.boatsafetyscheme.org/stay-safe.
