Bill Clyde, manager of West Marine in Easton, along with Cambridge Sail and Power Squadron held a flare and fire extinguisher demonstration and training event, Saturady, May 23rd at Great Marsh Park, Cambridge. This event was open to the public to alllow people to try lighting a flare and operating a fire extinguisher in a monitored situation when there was no immediate danger. There is no time to read the directions at the time of an emergency.
Where it is normally against the law to shoot maritime emergency flares when there is no emergency, a sponsored event with emergency personnel aware, is a time to see the various kinds of flares available and try them.The Coast Guard in Baltimore issued a Notice to Mariners of the event. Bill Clyde from West Marine brought many types of expired flares and shared his knowledge with the group.
The west wind blew the orange smoke over the river at the launch at Great Marsh Park and it could be seen from the bridge crossing the Choptank River. Aerial flares were shot, some with parachutes, some without. The parachutes allow the flares to stay airborne for a longer time period. Basically,aerial flares last less than a minute, hand-held, up to 3 minutes.. Flares are required on motorized boats as visual distress signals, and must be up-to-date.
A fire pan was used for a small diesel fire. Wayne Rigby, volunteer fireman and education officer of Cambridge Sail and Power Squadron demonstrated and monitored persons using Type B and C extinguishers to put out the diesel fire. Fire extinguishers are also required on boats using mechanical propulsion.
Cambridge Sail and Power Squadron meets at the Cambridge Library 2nd Thursday at 7:30 PM, with many safe boating courses available. Boating Safety week ended with the celebration of Memorial Day, the official opening of the boating season.
For further information, contact Nancy Harvey, Cmdr Cambridge Sail and Power Squadron, (410) 901- 2501; [email protected]
