\n1. First and foremost, check all onboard fire extinguishers for pressure and functionality as suggested on the label. Be familiar with the type of extinguisher you carry \u2014 \u201cA\u201d for solid fuels like wood and fabric, \u201cB\u201d for liquid fires such as gas and oil, and \u201cC\u201d for electrical fires. There are other, more specialized types, but these are the most common.\n<\/ul>\n
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\n2. Prepare for what you\u2019ll do if a fire breaks out. Know where your fire extinguisher is on board and practice with it in a controlled environment. Have a fire drill. Make everyone put on life jackets, meet in the cockpit or on the foredeck, and have them prepare to abandon ship.\n<\/ul>\n
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\n3. In a real fire, make an emergency call to the Coast Guard over VHF Channel 16. Then find the fire and try to locate its source. If the source is a piece of electrical equipment or flammable liquid, shut down the power and\/or close off fuel lines before attempting to put out the fire.\n<\/ul>\n
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\n4. Grab your fire extinguisher and control the fire. Remember the acronym PASS \u2014 pull the pin on the extinguisher, aim it at the base of the flames, squeeze the handle and sweep the chemical from side to side. Cover the area of the fire until it is completely out.\n<\/ul>\n
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\n5. When fighting a fire fueled by electricity or a flammable liquid, do not use water. Water can, in fact, present a dangerous shock hazard or help spread the fire. If you do not have an extinguisher on hand, use a blanket to try to smother the fire.\n<\/ul>\n
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\n6. Once the fire is out, vent and clear the area of smoke. Be wary of flare-ups even after the flames appear to be dead. Assign someone to watch that the fire doesn\u2019t reignite.\n<\/ul>\n
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\n7. If you can\u2019t get the fire under control, don\u2019t wait to leave. Get everyone into the dinghy or life raft, or form a chain by crossing arms, and abandon ship. Firefighters prioritize situations like this: 1) save lives, 2) property and 3) the environment. You should do the same.\n<\/ul>\n
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United Marine Underwriters is more than just boat insurance.<\/span><\/a> Browse our Boats For Sale<\/span><\/a> at BoatBrowser or our Lake Resource Guide<\/span><\/a> at LakeBrowser or share your fishing stories and photos at True Fish Tales<\/span><\/a> \u2013 the ones that did not get away.<\/p>\n
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