It’s no secret that Australians are avid lovers of the water as the country is abundant with natural marine resources from offshore beauties to inland wonders. Outside of the country’s shores, there are plenty of reefs rich with ecosystems of fish, corals, and other marine wonders. Meanwhile, within the country’s lands, lovers of the water are blessed with an abundance of rivers, lakes and ponds that are ripe for exploration and fishing. These inland waters are teeming with life such as fish for fishing, animals for hunting and greenery for exploration and sightseeing. People who take their vacations to Australia have no shortage of options on what to do.

Plenty of fishing and family boat owners in the country enjoy the country’s natural marine resources. They take their adventures offshore and perform exciting and thrilling activities and watersports such as paragliding, wakeboarding and skiing. These adrenaline-inducing sports are sure to satisfy their daredevil urges as they perform various physical feats at high speeds. Meanwhile, boaters who like to calm down and commune with nature can simply take their tinnie boats to inland waters such as rivers and lakes, where the environments are usually calm and gentle. They can cast out their fishing lines and wait for fish to catch their lines while they connect with their families and friends. Otherwise, they can simply do nothing at all and simply drift along the waves — a relaxing activity that boaters should try once in a while.

Boating is a fun activity that can be enjoyed by people of different personalities. However, there are some dangers that boaters can experience when they’re in the water, and they need to be careful of these. One of these dangers is a fire unexpectedly occurring in a boat.

No matter what a fishing boat is made of, whether it’s wood, fibreglass, metal, or aluminium, it could still catch fire due to flammable items inside the boat. A fire in the middle of a cruise is a crucial emergency situation, and boat owners need to know basic firefighting tips to counter such danger.

Here are things to do when a flammable object is inside your boat:

Keep Distance from the Flame

Remember that fire is hot, painful, and spreads easily. Even the narrow tip of the fire can burn clothes, hair or other flammable objects if one gets close to them. If possible, fight the fire from a distance through the use of fire safety gadgets such as fire extinguishers, hoses, and fire blankets. The fires could also be doused with a bucket of water as long as the flame does not start from grease or if it’s not an electrical fire. Never pour water over a grease fire.

Stop the Boat

If your boat is underway, make sure to stop it. Let everyone wear their life vests (if they’re not wearing them), just in case you need to abandon a  boat. Call for help using VHF marine radio.

Don’t Panic

One of the dangerous things people can do during an urgent situation is to panic. Undisciplined behaviour during a boat fire can lead to passengers jumping over the water without lifejackets instead of assisting in putting out the fire. Firefighting requires the help of everyone on board. Instruct everyone in an authoritative manner to calm down and tell them what to do to help put out the fire.

Fight the Fire

All boats must have at least one fire safety device such as fire extinguishers or fire blankets. These items are not optional and are as important as life jackets. During a fire, you or an experienced passenger must reach for the nearest firefighting device such as a fire extinguisher and douse the flame before it engulfs much of the boat.