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Shipboard fires have been a hazard since vessels have put to sea, and though large
vessels are no longer constructed primarily out of wood, the risk of fires remain very
present. As such, various firefighting systems have been implemented using modern
technology.
Fire doors are a basic form of fire control. Automated fire doors are commonly found
aboard ships as a means of isolating an area where fire has been detected. Once
properly isolated, the fire cannot spread further into adjacent compartments.
Combined with ventilation systems to exhaust air out of the affected compartment(s),
a fire can be suffocated such that it will eventually consume all of the oxygen in the
room and stop burning, though this method of extinguishing can lead to excessive
damage to the affected compartments.
More active means of fire suppression include fixed gas or foam extinguisher
systems, which will typically be activated to apply fire suppressant foam or carbon
dioxide to smother the fire in the afflicted compartments. By blocking the burning
materials’ access to oxygen, most classes of fire will quickly burn out. Also present
are fixed water spraying systems and automated sprinklers which cool the burning
material, although these are hazardous to use against electrical, oil, or diesel fires as
they can exacerbate the fire or create electrical hazards. However, as these systems
are fixed, they cannot be used in a handheld manner by firefighting crew in other
compartments. For that, conventional handheld fire extinguishers are commonly
distributed throughout the ship in addition to firefighting equipment such as fire axes,
firefighting apparel, and emergency breathing apparatus.
The smoke and other toxic fumes generated by fires also pose a considerable threat
to crew during firefighting and even after the fire has been extinguished. Venting the
fumes out of the compartments with the ventilation systems should be conducted in a
safe manner to avoid exhausting the contaminated air into fire-free compartments.
Clean air from outside can only be brought into the burning compartments when the
fire (i.e. the source of the smoke and fumes) has been extinguished and will not “fan
the flames”. The fire may also use the ventilation to spread further through the ship if
it is still burning. Until then, personnel conducting damage control, firefighting, or
emergency repairs in those compartments will have to rely on breathing apparatus to
supply them clean air.
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