FIREFIGHTERS from Bucks have backed a national boat safety campaign to boost awareness of the dangers of fire and potentially deadly carbon monoxide poison while out on the water.

In the last 20 years, 30 boaters have been killed in fire-related incidents upon boats across the UK and another 30 people died due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Six of these fatalities have been in the last year alone.

Last Tuesday, the Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Boat Safety Scheme joined forces and publically endorsed a national boat safety campaign in light of the increase in boating interest across the region.

The service is urging members of the boating community, particularly those who reside upon their boats, to ensure that their boats are fully equipped with the correct fire safety equipment.

Neil Boustred, head of Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service's community safety team, said: "Our key messages are that you should fit suitable alarms, make an action place so that you can escape in the event of a fire, understand the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and take extreme care when refuelling or changing gas cylinders.

"Last year, the most common causes of fires on boats were electrical fires and solid fuel stove fires. records show that exhaust emissions from portable generators, and the problems with solid fuel stoves and flue pipes, pose the biggest carbon monoxide risks."

The aim of the Boat Safety Scheme of Fire Rescue Service is to ensure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are installed upon all boats, and anyone in doubt of their boat fire safety may contact the Buckinghamshire Fire Rescue Service for a free boat safety check.

For further information about fire and carbon monoxide safety afloat, please contact the Boat Safety scheme on 0333 202 1000 or visit www.boatsafetyscheme.com.

To book an appointment for a free boat fire safety check please call 01296 744477 or email cs@bucksfire.gov.uk