1. Retroactive codes needed for marinas.
Present day building and fire protection codes enable emergency services to effectively deal with a large part of the marina fire problem. Had the very minimum of fire protection equipment, such as an automatic fire detection system, been installed in the covered slip area, the outcome most probably would have been drastically different. Fire service personnel who were actively engaged in this incident unanimously agree that such a tool is urgently needed, especially when one considers that there are many simil facilities in Maryland as well as elsewhere.
2. Public fire education needed for marinas and boat owners.
Regardless of whether codes require fire protection systems, the marina owners and users still should be advised of the need to have early detection and automatic suppression. This marina fire makes it clear that operators and users of facilities such as this must take an active role in recognizing and addressing the fire hazards that confront them. It makes little sense to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in a vessel that is left virtually unprotected from the hazards of fire throughout a large portion of the year. The hazard is probably not adequately recognized. Marina owners, operators, and users should be made.the target of a special education campaign to rectify this situation.
3. Fire department planning needed for special hazards.
This fire further illustrates the need for fire service personnel who serve areas such as this marina' to aggressively pursue and develop comprehensive
emergency operation plans. Included in the plans would be identification
of reliable sources of water for fire fighting purposes during all seasons of the year. In the case of this marina, consideration was given to an air bubbler system around the boats; however, no consideration was given toward identifying a suitable year-round site for fire department drafting operations, not to mention other fire protection equipment shortcomings. A pre-fire plan also should include the mutual aid companies which most likely would be an integral part of the overall operation.
4. Physical security needed to protect high-value marinas.
While limited security provisions were provided at this marina, it is obvious that the program fell short. It is necessary during long periods of inactivity on the part of boat owners and marina management to have security checks round-the-clock or through built-in fire protection equipment such as fire detection and suppression systems.
5. The fire department should be alerted when a fire of uncertain location is reported.
Common practice in many parts of the country is to use police to find a fire when the reported location is uncertain, rather than call out the fire department - particularly volunteers. Generally, if the location given is specific enough to-institute a search, the fire department should be called. At a minimum, they can stand by at their station until the location is determined. Police should be used to search for fires, too, particularly where they could potentially find the fire before the fire department.
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