A few months ago, there was a widely reported incident in which a
boat burned to the waterline. You may recall many follow-up stories as the boat eventually sank, presenting a hazard to navigation. It later was salvaged and towed to a nearby
marina.

There are a few lessons we can learn from this incident. Obviously, one lesson is to take all of the steps necessary to prevent fire. But when a boat burns to the waterline and sinks, we can see just how horrific and all-consuming a boat fire can be. Fortunately, the subject boat was near land, and all aboard were quickly rescued. Had the fire occurred offshore, the results might well have been tragic.