There are times when we take safety for granted, but that can be a very dangerous fallacy. Safety can be part of the fun because never having to take time out because of injury just enhances the fun. Safety should be considered and take priority in all of our activities. The lives and injuries that you prevent may be your own.
This event happened on the Columbia River when a boat went screaming down the river with the driver enjoying the thrill of the open water. Shortly after passing my location, a fuel leak caused the boat to catch fire. The boat operator, as unlikely as it seems on the surface (no pun intended), was only able to jump into the water to avoid serious injury. We responded to the emergency within one minute, only to see the bow of the 28 foot boat sink beneath the water.
Yes, boats can burn despite the water all around them. Just being around water will not put out a gas or oil fire, or any fire for that matter. Besides some of the materials that boats are made of, both the hull and the insides can burn rapidly. Add to that the fact that you have gallons of fuel on board and it can be a recipe for disaster.
It can be almost as dangerous as the practice of throwing gas or other flammable material onto a charcoal grill. You can do it many times without incident, but the one time when things do go wrong, can be disastrous beyond belief.
Often when performing safety inspections of boats, you find cavalier attitudes because it does not dawn on people that a boat can burn, but in the reality of things, boats can burn but the quicker you can control such a situation, the better.
Always check to determine if you have a fire extinguisher and that it is in working order. Be sure that everyone knows how to use the device and where it is located. Make sure that it is current, there is an expiration date on fire extinguishers.
One of the worse places to have a fire extinguisher stored is in the engine compartment where a fire is most likely. Unless you have additional extinguishers located in other places. It is better to have more than one than not to have one when it is most needed.
A fire extinguisher that is not operable can be called an anchor, but it is not a safety device.
Likewise, having life jackets that are not accessible are more of a hazard than most people realize. Most accidents do not allow you time to get life jackets that may be buried under a bunch of junk, then attempt to determine the one or ones that are the proper size during an actual emergency. Another thing that can be extremely frustrating, is attempting to put a life jacket while in the water during an actual emergency.
Frequently asking each person to get a life jacket results in extreme delays and even when they are in hand, they don’t fit. All of these circumstances can be life threatening.
Another frequent occurrence on boats is the use of alcohol. While it is permissible to consume alcohol in many cases, it requires a very healthy dose of common sense. With dehydration, fatigue and other factors contributing to the state of mind, including the motion of the boat itself, people often lose track of the effects these things have on their ability to make rational and sound decisions in the heat of an emergency. A designated operator is the best antidote in this situation.
This is not an effort to take the fun out of boating, but one that takes the pain out of it for rescue workers that may have to put themselves in harm’s way to save a person from injury or worse.
The pictures of the boat accompanying this article show the devastating effects of a boat fire, even on the water. These pictures were actually taken near the confluence of the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Fortunately there was no injury in this case and for that we are most thankful. Enjoy boating, I certainly do, but in all things you do, consider safety paramount. Enjoy, stay healthy and injury free!