Preventing Boat Fires
Poor management of electrical systems is one of the leading causes of marine fires. Have all equipment and electrical maintained by professionals. If DIY repair work involving electrical and mechanical systems is necessary have work checked over by a professional once completed.
Check for fuel leaks and faulty electrical components regularly. When a fault is found stop using the boat until the device or component is repaired.
Only refuel your vessel in designated areas and with proper grounding.
Preventing Unsafe Behaviors
Drugs / alcohol and boating don’t mix. Never operate any watercraft while under the influence of drugs, alcohol or medications that make you drowsy.
Don’t leave operating electrical devices or cooking unattended.
Dispose of smoking materials safely. Simply throwing a butt overboard doesn’t stop it from blowing back onto the vessel.
Never leave shore without:
- Canadian approved life jackets or personal flotation devices for every person on the vessel
- Safety flares
- A working cell phone with What3Words installed or
- a marine radio
Know How To Get Help
If using a marine radio, call the Canadian Coast Guard at VHF Channel 16
If using a cell phone call 911 for police, ambulance or fire.
What3Words
What3Words is a global positioning app used by all Norfolk County emergency services to locate people who aren’t near a convenient address, like out on Lake Erie or on Norfolk’s trails. The app translates the entire planet into 3 meter by 3 meter squares and gives each square a unique 3-word identifier. Those three words can be easily relayed to emergency services to give your exact location and greatly speed up our response. Once installed the app can be used with or without data enabled.
What Does My Boat Need?
Fire Extinguishers – BC-rated fire extinguishers are required on all personal watercraft, vessels with motors (inboard or outboard), vessels with fuel-burning cooking equipment and vessels with heating/refrigerating appliances**. Fire extinguishers must be secured but located where they are easily accessible in an emergency. It is not recommended to store a fire extinguisher in a compartment where it could sit in water for long periods of time.
Smoke Alarms – Smoke alarms are required to be installed in all vessels with accommodation spaces intended for sleeping*. Smoke alarms must be installed at or near the ceiling of the compartment.
CO (Carbon Monoxide) Alarms – CO alarms are required anywhere a smoke alarm is required. Additionally CO alarms are required on any vessel with a fuel-fired generator or enclosed inboard engine.
* NFPA 302 Standard for Pleasure and Commercial Motor Craft
** Transport Canada Safe Boating Guide