Fire

[wavecrosschris]

Poor old Princess...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/southerncountie...allery.shtml?1

[codprawn]

I know the RNLI aren't firemen but surely something could have been done? They just chose to let it burn itself out.

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by codprawn

I know the RNLI aren't firemen but surely something could have been done? They just chose to let it burn itself out.

Like what? The crew were removed-no sense in wasting RNLI crewmen's lives boarding a burning boat that no doubt had gas cylinders,flares and petrol cans aboard...

[wavecrosschris]

and about 600 quids worth of diesel LOL

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Like what? The crew were removed-no sense in wasting RNLI crewmen's lives boarding a burning boat that no doubt had gas cylinders,flares and petrol cans aboard...

You could say that about any garage or even house - many people have a calor gas fire or similar in their homes - and aerosols and all sorts of nasties.

I thought lifeboats carried fire fighting equipment???

[Polwart]

Cod:

1. As you said the RNLI are not the fire brigade. Whilst I am sure they carry basic fire fighting equipment and have basic training in fire fighting they are volunteers whose principal role is to save lives at sea. Compared to fire fighters who are there to protect life and property and (except in some rural areas) are normally dedicated full time professionals.

2. No fire fighter would have entered a confined space with 600 L of diesel, and gas cylinders just to save the "property". In that case they would fight from the outside at a "safe" distance.

3. Fire fighters would be wearing breathing apparatus if they did have to enter a confined space such as that in order to save life. As far as I know the RNLI do not carry BA kit for such an eventuality. I also suspect RNLI dry suits are more likely to shrink wrap you in a fire than protect from heat.

4. Confined space on a boat is potentially more dangerous than on land as getting off the boat is harder - on land you can at least run like hell if you think it is going to go bang.

4. If it was well alight when they arrived as reported in the MCGA press release, the prospects of the boat being anything other than a total right off would be pretty low anyway (I would suggest this is the case for any fire on a fibreglass boat of this size once fire has spread beyond the engine room).

5. It takes a lot of water to put out a well seated fire. Probably would have sunk her anyway.

Glad to hear everyone got off safely; hopefully it was well insured.

[Jono]

Originally Posted by Polwart

........ It takes a lot of water to put out a well seated fire......

Certainly does in the West Mids... Cod..stop talking bollix!

[Jono]

Ok…so this is how I reckon the conversation would have gone if there had been a Fire crew on board the life boat….

NEE-NAH-NEE-NAH……….

OIC - “Ok, Boys BA on, Hose reel in through the cabin whilst we rig up a main jet on 70mm…”

Crew - “OK Boss! Whereabouts and how many persons reported? “

OIC - “ None Lads, the crew are all accounted for and safe away…”

Crew- “ Err Boss? You want us to go on board that floating bomb and there’s no one on board at risk….?

OIC -“ Yes,yes that’s right! I want you to go on board that precariously floating vessel made of an oil by-product, containing LPG cylinders and a few hundred gallons of fuel wearing your flame retardant kit and BA sets that are sure to drag you to the bottom if the vessel sinks or you fall in, So Chop, Chop! “

Crew – “ Err Boss?”…. **THWACK**…..

[Jono Garton]

Originally Posted by codprawn

I know the RNLI aren't firemen but surely something could have been done? They just chose to let it burn itself out.

RNLI are their to save life, not boats.

Jono

[Alex Brown]

I suppose they could have got one of the tugs like Tenax to drop on by and give the boat a good soaking, but that would have probably sunk it anyway, plus also the journey time to get there.

I've often wondered before what would happen if you had a large boat like that catch fire in a marina amongst other boats of the same type.... it's the sort of thing you may see on tv like Casualty, but thankfully not something you see in marinas that often. Would you throw a large grappling hook from a tug and just haul it away?

-Alex