BOAT owners using the many miles of rivers and canals across Herefordshire and Worcestershire are urged to make sure their vessels are safe from the perils of fire and carbon monoxide.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service is using Boat Safety Week, which starts on Monday, to get the safety message across.

In the past 20 years, 30 boaters were killed in boat fires and another 30 lost their lives due to carbon monoxide.

The key message is that owners should understand the risks, make regular basic checks, and follow their engine and appliance operating guidelines, as the essential steps to deal with the fire and carbon monoxide threat.

Two information leaflets will be available at local boat yards and marinas to alert people to the risks. The Fire Safety on Boats leaflet provides tips on how to protect your boat and crew from fire, as well as what to do if a fire breaks out, while the Carbon Monoxide Safety on Boats leaflet highlights the safeguards boat owners can take to minimise the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Station Commander Alan Haley from HWFRS said: “While boat fires are relatively infrequent in our service area, they do have the potential for devastating consequences and so we would urge all boat users to take note of the advice above and do everything they can to stay safe.”

He also reminded people to make sure they can give a good indication of their location when aboard a boat, explaining that access to rivers and canals can be difficult, but that good directions can help avoid any unnecessary delay in the event of an emergency.