Question:
How am I to react to the following? Does anyone know of statistics kept somewhere re fires aboard, and the use of smoke detectors?

If we don't react positively we could be suddenly deluged with s load of h&s safety legislation that is inappropriate.

I quote:

Dear Sir,

I'm sorry to contact you again with more sad news, but we have recently begun an investigation into a fire on a narrow boat at Adlington, on the Macclesfield Canal. It was a particularly serious accident with one person killed and another seriously injured.

I would be very grateful if, as in our last investigation, you could review your records to help give us an idea of the number of accidents that have occurred in similar circumstances.

The fire in this case happened on a relatively modern boat during the night, after those on board had gone to bed. The only equipment in use was a solid fuel burner, but must stress that we are not able to determine that this was the cause at this stage. I know that smoke detectors are not required by either the RCD or Boat Safety Schemes, but would be grateful if you could advise us on how widespread their use is please ?

Answer: -The only people who check boats are Boat Safety Examiners therefore BSS should have the answers but I expect they haven't. I tried for years to get the BSS to suggest that boats had carbon monoxide alarms without success. Any replys from this forum will be from the better informed.

-I have 3 smoke alarms onboard.

The battery from one is now in a radio. From another is now in a CO detector (risk management, I can see fire, I can't see CO). The battery from the third went flat.

Whether it's right or wrong is irrelevant. It's how it is.