Marine Firefighting

Lecturer

#4307 FF Daniel

The Legal Implications

Who is in Command?
At Sea- The Ships Captain or Master.
In Port -The Harbor Master or Port
captain.
At Sea on an Abandoned Vessel -The
Coast Guard.

Parts of a Ship

Fire Spread in Ships

Conduction-Conduction is the transfer of heat through a
solid body
Fire can move from one hold to another, one deck to
another, and one compartment to another via heat
conduction.
A water spray pattern absorbs heat more efficiently than
a solid stream, because the smaller water droplets
present more surface to the heat source. At the same
time, less water is used, so there is less of a water runoff
problem and less danger of affecting the stability of the
vessel.

Fire Spread in Ships

Radiation-Heat radiation is the transfer of heat from a
source across an intervening space; no material
substance is involved
Heat radiates in all directions unless it is blocked.
Radiant heat extends fire by heating combustible
substances in its path, causing them to produce vapor,
and then igniting the vapor

Fire Spread in Ships

Convection- Convection is the transfer of heat through the
motion of heated matter, i.e., through the motion of smoke,
hot air, heated gases produced by the fire, and flying
embers.
When it is confined (as within a ship), convected heat moves
in predictable patterns. The fire produces lighter-than-air
gases that rise toward high parts of the ship. Heated air,
which is lighter than cool air, also rises, as does the smoke
produced by combustion. As these heated combustion
products rise, cool air takes their place; the cool air is heated
in turn and then also rises to the highest point it can reach
(Fig. 4.11). As the hot air and gases rise from the fire, they
begin to cool; as they do, they drop down to be reheated and
rise again. This is the convection cycle.

Radiation

conduction

convection

Class of Fires and their usual

Locations
CLASS A Fires
The bridge contains wooden desks, charts,almanacs and other such
combustibles.
Wood in many forms may be found in the carpenter shop.
Various types of cordage are stowed in the boatswain's locker (Fig. 5.10).
The emergency locker on the bridge wing contains rockets and/or
explosives for the line throwing gun.
The undersides of metal cargo containers are usually constructed of wood
or woodbased materials.
Lumber for dunnage, staging and other uses may be stored below decks.
Large numbers of filled laundry bags are sometimes left in passageways,
awaiting movement to and from the laundry room.
Rubber and plastics are used extensively for the insulation on electrical
wiring.

Class of Fires and their usual

Locations
CLASS B Fires

Large quantities of combustible liquids, in

the form of fuel and diesel oil, are also
stowed aboard ship, for use in propelling
and generating electricity
Fuel and diesel oil may also be found as
residues and films on and under oil
burners and equipment in the engine
room.

CLASS B Fire Extinguishment

The source of the flammable or
combustible liquid involved in fire should
be cut off as soon as possible
Smothering-Using foam to blanket the
liquid and thus shut off the supply of
oxygen to the fire
Eliminating oxygen by sealing off the
ventilation to the fire.

Size up
Size up is the evaluation of the fire situation. The
on-scene leader should determine, as quickly as
possible,
1. The class of fire (what combustible materials
are burning)
2. The appropriate extinguishing agent
3. The appropriate method of attack
4. How to prevent extension of the fire
5. The required manpower and firefighting
assignments.

Firefighting Procedures
Communications
Communications with the
master should be established by phone or by messenger.
Communications with firefighting teams must also be
established and maintained. Messengers would be best
for this purpose, since telephone lines might be
destroyed by the fire, and firefighters would be moving
constantly.
An internal two-way radio system, if available, could be
used to coordinate firefighting efforts.

Firefighting Procedures
Staging Area.

The staging area should be established in a smoke free area, as near

as possible to the fire area.

An open deck location, windward of the fire, would be ideal. However,

if the fire is deep within the ship, the staging area should be located
below deck. A location near a ship's telephone, if feasible, would be
helpful in establishing communication links.

However, the staging area should not be located where it might be

endangered by the spread of fire. All the supplies needed to support
the firefighting effort should be brought to the staging area. These
would include backup supplies of hose, nozzles and axes; spare
cylinders for breathing apparatus; and portable lights. The staging
area should also be used as the first aid station.

The equipment required to render first aid to injured crewmen should

be set up there.

Firefighting Procedures
Attack
The attack should be started as soon as possible, to gain
immediate control and to prevent or minimize the
extension of fire to exposures. (Exposures are the areas
of the ship that are adjacent to the fire area on all four
sides and above and below.)

Firefighting Procedures
Direct Attack
In a direct attack, firefighters advance to the immediate
fire area and apply the extinguishing agent directly into
the seat of the fire. There may be no problem in getting
to the immediate fire area if the fire is small and has not
gained headway.
Ventilation is used only when a direct attack is made on
the fire. During an indirect attack the fire area must be
made as airtight as possible, to keep oxygen out and the
extinguishing agent in.

Firefighting Procedures
Indirect Attack.
An indirect attack is employed when it is
impossible for firefighters to reach the seat of the
fire. Generally this is the case when the fire is in
the lower portions of the vessel.
The success of an indirect attack depends on
complete containment of the fire. All possible
avenues of fire travel must be cut off by closing
doors and hatches and shutting down ventilation
systems. The attack is then made from a remote
location.

Firefighting Procedures
Ventilation
Ventilation is the action taken to release combustion
products trapped within the ship and vent them to the
atmosphere outside the ship. Most fire fatalities do not
result from burning, but rather from asphyxiation by
combustion gases or lack of oxygen.

Firefighting Procedures
Vertical Ventilation.
The smoke and hot gases generated by the fire should
be vented to the outside air if possible. As a fire
intensifies, the combustion gases become superheated;
if they are ignited, they will spread the fire very quickly.
In the ideal situation, the gases are released at a point
directly above the fire, as the extinguishing agent is
brought to bear on the fire.
This ideal vertical ventilation is just about impossible to
achieve aboard ship, since there is rarely a direct upward
route from the fire to the outside. In most instances, at
least some horizontal ventilation is required

Firefighting Procedures
Horizontal Ventilation.
Horizontal ventilation is achieved by opening windward
and leeward doors to create an airflow through the
spaces in which the combustion products are collecting.
Fresh air flowing in through a windward doorway moves
the combustion products out through the leeward
doorways. The leeward doors should always be opened
first.
Portholes should also be opened; however, small
portholes are not very effective in removing smoke and
heat.

Vertical Ventilation

Horizontal Ventilation

Combination Ventilation

Protecting Exposures
Protecting exposures means preventing the fire from
extending beyond the space in which it originated. If this
can be accomplished, the fire can usually be controlled
and extinguished without extensive damage.
To protect exposures, the fire must virtually be
surrounded on six sides; firefighters with hoselines or
portable extinguishers must be positioned to cover the
flanks and the spaces above and below the fire.
The officer in charge must also consider fire travel
through the venting system. Crewmen must be
dispatched to examine and protect openings in the
system through which fire might enter other spaces.

Protecting Exposures

Overhaul
Overhaul is begun after the main body of fire is
extinguished. It is actually a combination of two
procedures, an examination and a cleanup
operation.
Overhaul can be a dangerous procedure. Records
show that land-based firefighters are injured more
during overhaul than during any other operation.
This is attributed to a letdown after the fire is
controlled ,leading to a degree of carelessness
and a lack of regard for personal safety.

PassagewayCompartment Fire
When flames have traveled out of a compartment and into
a passageway, it is essential that the compartment be
reached. The hose stream must be directed into the seat
of the fire. The flames in the passageway must be
knocked down before the nozzle can be positioned
properly. This is best accomplished by advancing as
close to the flames as possible and keeping low to the
deck (Fig. 10.6). Then the nozzle should be opened to
the fog position. The stream should be moved up and
down so that the water bounces off the bulkhead and the
overhead, and into the flames. This will push the heat
and flames ahead of the nozzleman, who should
continue to advance until he reaches his objective.

PassagewayCompartment Fire

PassagewayCompartment Fire
Fire in a passageway must never be
attacked from opposite directions. If it is,
one of the hose lines will push flames,
heat and smoke directly at the other hose
team

Hidden Compartment Fire

To attack a substantial fire behind a closed door, the
charged hoseline should first be positioned outside the
door. Then the door should be opened only enough to
insert the nozzle. Using the door to protect his body, the
nozzleman should sweep a fog stream around the
compartment. Both the nozzleman and the backup man
should crouch as low as possible, to allow the heat and
steam to pass overhead (Fig. 10.8). After a few seconds,
the door may be opened a bit more. If conditions permit,
the team should enter the compartment and advance
until they can hit the seat of the fire with a straight stream

Flooding a Compartment with a

Portable Foam
Generator
To flood a compartment, a hose is run out on the deck
above, the generator is attached to the hose, and the
foam concentrate is connected to the generator pickup
tube.
All personnel must leave the space to be flooded, if the
fire has not already driven them out.
A hole, through which the foam is to be applied is cut in
the deck (Fig. 7.18). A charged hoseline must be
available at this time. (Whenever an opening is made into
a fire area, an additional hoseline, charged with water,
must be available in case the fire pushes through the
opening. The charged line is then used to protect the
opening.)

Flooding a Compartment with a

Portable Foam
Generator
Before the high-expansion foam is directed into
the opening, another opening must be made.
The second opening, some distance away but
still over the same space, allows the escape of
steam that is generated when the high
expansion foam hits the fire (Fig. 7.18).
If the second opening (the vent) is made on an
open deck, the steam and heat will dissipate into
the open air.

Flooding a Compartment with a

Portable Foam
Generator
If it is impossible to place the vent in the open, then it
must be made in a passageway that leads to the open
air.
Once firefighters are sure that the passageway is open,
no one should remain in the path of the escaping steam.
When the foam is applied, it will generate steam that is
hot enough to scald.
Steam leaving the vent hole is a good indication that the
foam is reaching its target and doing its work. If no
steam is seen within a few minutes, either the foam is
not reaching its objective or the vent hole is improperly
placed.

Flooding a Compartment with a

Portable Foam
Generator

Machinery Space Fires

Cut off Fuel Supply

Stop Ventilation
Isolate Electricals
Initiate Direct Attack
If beaten back, seal compartment
Deploy Fixed Firefighting Equipment

Firefighting Organization

Points to note
The captain or harbour master has the final say on the
continuance of firefighting operations.
Fog streams should be used the most as they present a
larger surface area to the fire as well as produces less
water overall.
Size up is paramount to a successful operation.
Leeward doors should always be opened before
windward doors.
Fire in a passageway must never be attacked from
opposite directions
Flooding a compartment should be done with high
expansion foam.

Points to note
A two branch attack is preferable to a
single line attack.
Communication must be maintained at all
times
A constant liasion with the captain and
ships crew is critical to success.

The End