No Direction

No Direction is our 70ft Narrowboat which is now home to my wife Jayne and myself, it was launched on 4th February 2008.

We spend the Winters in a Marina and cruise in the warmer weather.

Tuesday 18 December 2012

Taking Care of Safety.

          
Tuesday, 18th December, 2012.
Kings Bromley Marina.

There is simply no excuse these days for boats not to be fitted with smoke detectors and a CO detector.

We called Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service back in 2009 after reading a leaflet pinned on the notice board at the Marina, we arranged for them to inspect our boat and fit smoke detectors in the area's where they though they would be most beneficial.

Their view was that four would cover the boat and supplied them free of charge, they were prepared to fit them, but we fitted them ourselves, only two screws each.

The name on the detectors is "Fire Angel" and are described as toast proof, meaning that they don't go off when cooking or making toast (bit obvious that).

We hope we never hear it.
 
We have one fitted at the front of the boat in the area where the solid fuel stove is, another in the kitchen, one in the bedroom and one at the rear in what we call the utility room where the washing machine and electrical cupboard are, we already had a CO detector and followed the advice regarding the best location.

We test them regularly, last week we found one not working so removed it, Jayne called into Lichfield fire station and explained the situation and was offered not only a free replacement but another visit.  So on Friday afternoon a Fire Appliance came through the gates and turned onto the carpark, two of the crew came down to the boat, one carrying a large plastic toolbox.

Once on board they replaced the faulty detector, had a general look around including the solid fuel stove and gave advice about what to do in case of a fire including escape routes, I often think about that when we see boats with people on board and a padlock on the rear access hatch.

There's no excuse for not having smoke detectors, there free and so is the professional advice.

3 comments:

Halfie said...

Four smoke detectors? Gulp! I thought the one we have on Jubilee would be enough. Looks like I'd better think again.

No Direction said...

Yes Halfie it does sound excessive, but we are 70ft and the detectors free so better safe than sorry.

Jim said...

Mine goes off if I leave the stove door open too long when putting more coal on the fire - and even if I leave the kettle boiling too long!
Still, better safe than sorry.