Firefighters have been touring South Yorkshire waterways in a bid to curb boat fires.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue (SYFR) offered boat enthusiasts free boat fire risk checks and provided advice to avoid fatal blazes on the water, as part of National Boat Fire Safety Week.

Throughout June, firefighters from the organisation’s Technical Rescue Unit (TRU) are visiting marinas including Sheffield’s Victoria Quays, Doncaster’s Strawberry Island and other local boat yards to offer fire safety advice to boaters.

SYFR’s head of community safety Steve Makepeace, said: "Although boat fires on inland waters are less common than fires on land, when they do occur, they can have devastating consequences. Boats are often in remote locations with difficult access, which may result in firefighters taking longer to arrive at an incident and allowing a fire to totally destroy a boat and everything onboard.

“As well as taking into account fire safety on the boat we would urge boaters to ensure that they know their location at all times so that in the event of any emergency we can get there as soon as possible."

On a safety check, boaters are offered advice on:

·         Fitting a suitable smoke alarm

·         Making a fire action plan

·         Taking extreme care when refueling or changing gas cylinders

·         Avoiding using portable gas equipment onboard, where possible, and store all gas canisters in special gas lockers or open places where any leaks will flow overboard

·         Checking such items as battery terminals and fuse box connections routinely for damaged strands or signs of overheating

·         Taking care when doing repairs, and keep interiors well ventilated if you’re using adhesives, paints and spirit based products

·         Always keeping your eye on a solid fuel stove when it’s lit, try to avoid leaving the boat with the stove running

Boaters interested in receiving free fire safety advice from South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue should call 0114 253 2353 or text FREE to 87023.

For more information on boat fire safety visit www.boatsafetyscheme.com/fire or for general home safety tips visit www.syfire.gov.uk