Dock fire in Alabama

At least 8 dead and could be more. Lots of houseboats, old wooden docks, covered with no openings, a lot of liveaboards in cold weather. We don't know the cause but easy to see the potential and to see why it spread so fast.

I've been under many a covered slip in my time. Some right at the bulkhead parallel to shore ; and some jutting out on the water with only one way in and out like the Alabama Fire.
Yes it's easy to see how this became so horrific .

Chesapeake46 ; think about Worton creek sheds or Tollchester or Piney knarrows...etc one in and one way out. Unfortunately lots of Covered slips are built this way and made of seasoned dry wood.

Never considered how ineffective fire alarms and smoke detectors are when the fire begins outside the boat at the dock. Terrible tragedy.

Those sheds are exactly what I had in mind when I get my boat in the next few years. Memo to self: Have the dink ready to go at all times.

Dinghy would have been of no use in this fire. Lucky if you even knew there was a fire and had a chance to jump in the water.

So crawl up in the rafters and stick a few battery powered smoke detectors to the poles? I mean, if you know the danger you have to try and mitigate it.

You got that right OB.

Better to employ a fire fighting nozzle and be ready to back out in a hurry. I was in Seattle when the antique boat dock burned.

They'd be yanked down the first day of spring as soon as someone warms up their Detroit and everyone complains of the constant beeping.

I lived on a houseboat on a lake 20+ years ago, used a propane heater that winter and didn't know a thing about fire prevention or carbon monoxide. I guess I got lucky, these people not so much. Such a tragic event.

Interesting interview of the manager of Florence Harbor Marina, also on the TN river but a very well run marina. She says she's received many questions from tenants and others since the fire.

https://www.timesdaily.com/news/loc...cle_f384393c-7595-5280-9fd4-f52004358e9d.html

Gist of it:

Gabled and vented roofs.
Regular electric checks.
Fire boat on site.

This dock is/was owned by Jackson county and should have met certain fire standards. They will assume the liability and any criminal charges laid against them.

I used to draw dock systems many years ago, including the large covered slip ones. Another thing to look for is whether they used fiberglass or metal panels through out. We always speced metal, but would include a fiberglass / plastic one very 16' or so, that collapses quickly to vent the structure. If you are checking out a new slip, look for the occasional lighter panels to see if they are using this system. Now I have not kept up on dock codes, so this might be out of date, but at least something to look out for on docks maybe 15 to 25 years old.

Just did a little research. The system still is used, but seems to be a higher a end application.

Before a dock is built, the Tennessee Valley Authority has to give it its stamp of approval through a 26a permit. According to the TVA website, it has authority over construction aspects like the size of the dock - where it is placed and how it connects to the shore.
TVA does no* regulate fire safety plans.
Neither does the State Fire Marshal's office. A spokesperson confirmed that they do not inspect docks as a general rule, but they will upon request or if they receive a complaint.
According to Jackson County Park's marina policy, there are to be "No open flame grills or cookers on the marina docks. They must be kept on boats." Unfortunately this was not the case.

It also says boaters must keep $300,000 worth of liability insurance and that the "lessee agrees that Jackson County is not responsible for any damages to personal property.".
Seems to be a complete lack of oversight.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management does require reporting and inspections for fuel tank leaks. A leak could create multiple problems including a fire hazard if one was present.

However, the TVA would not approve a dock like that one being built today as they have changed requirements over the years.