Fire Hazard

[mr475]

Last week a client of ours lost 2 boats to a fire in Middle Harbour. You may have seen this on the TV news. A barbecue mishap on his cruiser started the fire. It took hold of the cruiser (which was fibreglass) and then spread to another boat he used to conduct a waterborne coffee shop service.

The disturbing thing that got me thinking was that he said when some burning material fell onto his second boat, it caught the marine carpet on fire and , to use his words, "It spread like it was kerosene over the carpet." My worry now is whether all marine carpet is so flammable. If there is a fire on my runabout at the stern where the engine is, will it spread too fast for me to get the fire extinguisher working?

I know in my case I can just go over the side in an emergency, but I would rather be able to limit damage by using my extinguisher without having the fire licking at my ankles while doing it.