Fighting Boat Fires

April 3, 2018

Having a fire on a boat is one of the worst scenarios you can have, because there is potentially no avenue to escape the fire, other than going in the water. The best method of fire prevention is to know your boat and properly maintain it. This begins by ensuring you use marine grade replacement parts for service and repairs. Trying to reduce costs by using cheaper automotive parts can have devastating results, since auto parts are not designed for fire suppression like their marine-grade counterparts. If it has an internal engine, it probably requires venting, so make sure you follow manufacturer’s guidelines for fueling and venting your boat.

Being prepared for that type of event can save you and the lives of others on board your boat. You should know how to use a fire extinguisher before you are in a situation where you have to use it. Before you launch, you should check your extinguishers and make sure it still has a charge and tell everyone on board where it is located. You are required by law to have one, so make sure it is in usable condition.

Fire extinguishers are labeled according to the type of fire on which they may be used. Fires involving wood or cloth, flammable liquids, electrical current or a combination of those will each react differently to extinguishers. Using the wrong type of extinguisher on a particular type of fire could be dangerous and make matters even worse. In the heat of the moment, reading the directions on the extinguisher is an after-thought.

Remember the P-A-S-S word!

Pull the pin at the top of the cylinder
Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire
Squeeze or press the handle
Sweep the contents from side to side at the base of the fire until it goes out

The time it takes to find a fire extinguisher in a cluttered storage compartment could mean the mounting difference between saving your boat or having to jump overboard. A properly mounted fire extinguisher should be at every exit and near the engine compartment. This keeps your back to your escape route and an extinguisher ready near the likely sources of fire aboard. In the galley, an extinguisher should be mounted so you do not have to reach over the stove.

On open motorboats, fire extinguishers should be mounted in an easily accessible location. A non-marine-rated fire extinguisher could have parts that corrode or do not secure it firmly to a moving boat. Be sure to purchase a marine-rated fire extinguisher that has a noncorrosive metal or plastic bracket that can secure it firmly to a vertical surface.

Watch or Warning

Did You Know?

Two-thirds of drowning victims are described as good swimmers.

Shoreline

Dozens of volunteers are beginning to hit the shoreline of Grand Lake in order to participate in the first organized Adopt the Shoreline cleanup efforts. After months of planning, the volunteers for the program will soon be seen on the shores of our majestic lake filling the green ATS trash bags and gathering tons of foam that line the shores of the lake.

The following dates have been scheduled for the Adopt the Shoreline initiatives.

The dates, times, and dumpster locations are listed below by Zone Number. We will be accepting white Styrofoam and trash collected on our shorelines at the dumpster sites, so even if you don't participate in the ATS program, you are still allowed to remove debris from your shoreline and dispose of it at a dumpster site.

Zone Date Time Dumpster Location

1 April 21 8am to 4pm Discount Dock Service

2 April 3 & 4 8am to 4pm Clearwater Bay Marina

2 April 28 8am to 4pm Hi-Lift Marina

3 April 13 & 14 8am to 4pm Gran Tara HOA ramp

4 May 14 9am to 4pm Big Hollow ramp

5 May 9th 8am to 4pm Southwinds Marina

6 April 20 & 21 8am to 4pm Shangri-La ramp

7 May 8 9am to 4pm Patricia Island HOA ramp

8 April 14 8am to 4pm Goldner Dock Service

9 May 2 8am to 4pm Elk River Landing

10 To Be Announced

GRDA will pay for the dumpster and disposal of collected foam and trash.

See the below zone map from our website for zone locations. For more details, visit the ATS webpage at http://www.grda.com/adopt-the-shoreline.

Boating Laws

"Updates" on the Web

Did you not receive our latest GRDA Update? Do you have a friend that wants to see our Updates? You can now go to our website at GRDA.com to view the latest edition of GRDA Police Updates. Go to the Lakes/River tab, open the GRDA Police tab and click on the GRDA Police Update for the latest version of our email release.

GRDA Buoy Guide

Boating Tips From the GLSPS

Each year for the last 50 years, the United States Coast Guard has been compiling accident reports. The most recent compilation of accidents reported for 2016 revealed the number one accident in frequency was collision with another recreational vessel that resulted in 38 deaths and 708 injuries.

Number two was collisions with a fixed object resulting in 63 deaths and 432 injuries.

Number three was flooding/swamping of the vessel with 90 deaths and 156 injuries. Grounding was fourth with 13 deaths and 246 injuries.

Number five in frequency was capsizing, but it had the most deaths at 175 and 200 injuries.

Many of the deaths were a result of drowning and could have been prevented by wearing a life jacket. Another finding is that many of the individuals involved in accidents had not taken a boating course to enhance their skills.

Interested in becoming more confident in your boating skills? Boat Smart from the start and take a course from America’s Boating Club, the United States Power Squadrons. For local information visit our website at: usps.org/grandlake or on Face Book at GLSPS.

Bassmaster

The 2018 Bassmaster Elite tournament will be held on Grand Lake on April 26-29 at the Wolf Creek Park boat ramp in Grove. The public is welcome for an early morning look at 111 of the best bass anglers in the world beginning their day on Grand Lake. Takeoff will begin with the national anthem at 6:15 a.m. CT. The location for the takeoff is Wolf Creek Park.

After a day on the water, you are welcome to watch the Elite Series anglers weigh in their catches on stage with B.A.S.S. emcee Dave Mercer and Tournament Director Trip Weldon. Weigh-ins are scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m CT at the same location as takeoff, Wolf Creek Park.

In order to accommodate the national tournament, officials will be closing the Wolf Creek boat ramp to all public boat traffic the week of April 23-29. The tournament is expected to draw 700 to 1,000 boat spectators, with as many as 5,000 on land at Wolf Creek Park at the weigh-in. The tournament will also be televised on ESPN.

By the Book

The Administrative Regulations of GRDA describe the organizations, operations, and procedures for the Grand River Dam Authority with respect to its administration, rulemaking, and other activities and are intended to supplement and interpret pertinent provisions of state statutes.

The following information are excerpts of the GRDA Administrative Regulations Title 300 Chapter 35 that are provided in an effort to educate the public about what regulations are enforced on GRDA waterways and properties. Many of these regulations have changed effective September 11, 2017. All GRDA regulations are available for review at GRDA.com.

PERMITS FOR WHARVES, LANDINGS, BUOYS, BREAKWATERS AND DOCKING FACILITIES

300:35-11-3. Waivers

(a) Upon written application and hearing, the Board of Directors of GRDA may grant a waiver, exception or modification to the requirements imposed on private and/or commercial permit applicants. Additionally, the Board of Directors may impose additional requirements upon any such applicant. Such waivers, exceptions, modifications, or additional requirements shall be based upon the totality of the circumstances, in consideration of public and environmental concerns.

(b) In approving waivers of these rules, the Board shall consider the SMP and all positive and negative impacts to the following:

(1) Characteristics of existing permitted and recreational uses within a half-mile radius of the proposed activity;

(2) Shoreline topography and geometry;

(3) Safety and navigation;

(4) Environment;

(5) Potential economic development and tourism benefits;

(6) Recreational use; and

(7) Statutory mandates.

(c) The applicant shall be required to give notice and the Board shall allow for public comment before acting on any request for a waiver of these rules.

(d) Public notice of the waiver request shall be given in accordance with guidelines established by the GRDA staff and shall include:

(1) Publication in newspapers of general circulation, including the county in which the property is located; and

(2) Mailing of written notice, via certified mail, return receipt requested, to all owners of property within one hundred fifty (150) feet from the outer edge of the proposed dock(s). Copies of certified mail receipts must be submitted to GRDA prior to any hearing and before GRDA posts any notice.

(3) The waiver application shall be posted on GRDA’s website for a period of at least thirty (30) days.

(4) Any other notice as required by GRDA.