Huge fire at Toledo beach Marina right now

[Jaws]

We've always had inside, warm storage both in Michigan and Ontario. The rule is, there are no overnight plug-ins allowed and all batteries must be disconnected. Buildings are monitored and workers are there daily. Even so, I'm going to visit the boat tomorrow. She just went up in value again, but so did insurance costs??

 

[Stee6043]

I'd wager a bet that sprinklers would not make a difference in this kind of fire. By the time a head were to open up I'm imagining the boat that started first would be fully involved, spreading fast. A typical fire sprinkler is not going to put out enough water to stop a fiberglass fire...though I'm not a fire protection engineer. But I have stayed at a few Holiday Inn's and I have seen contractors run into, and activate, fire sprinklers before.

It makes me think of something I've heard before - fire boats aren't generally trying to put out fires on boats, they are trying to sink the boats. Not sure if that's entirely accurate but since I've heard it more than once on the internet it must have a 15% chance of being true

 

[Stee6043]

She just went up in value again, but so did insurance costs??

If we don't feel the insurance increases ever time a named storm wipes out 500 boats down south, I don't think we'll feel the pain on this one either

 

[Golfman25]

I'd wager a bet that sprinklers would not make a difference in this kind of fire. By the time a head were to open up I'm imagining the boat that started first would be fully involved, spreading fast. A typical fire sprinkler is not going to put out enough water to stop a fiberglass fire...though I'm not a fire protection engineer. But I have stayed at a few Holiday Inn's and I have seen contractors run into, and activate, fire sprinklers before.

It makes me think of something I've heard before - fire boats aren't generally trying to put out fires on boats, they are trying to sink the boats. Not sure if that's entirely accurate but since I've heard it more than once on the internet it must have a 15% chance of being true

We had a car fire in our parking lot. Firemen said there is no hope putting the fire out due to the materials. They just try to control the burn until there is nothing left to burn.

 

[pyro]

I think the goal turns to protecting the nearby structures and other surrounding property.

I wonder how much combined gallons of gas & diesel was stored in there

 

[ttmott]

I'd wager a bet that sprinklers would not make a difference in this kind of fire. By the time a head were to open up I'm imagining the boat that started first would be fully involved, spreading fast. A typical fire sprinkler is not going to put out enough water to stop a fiberglass fire...though I'm not a fire protection engineer. But I have stayed at a few Holiday Inn's and I have seen contractors run into, and activate, fire sprinklers before.

It makes me think of something I've heard before - fire boats aren't generally trying to put out fires on boats, they are trying to sink the boats. Not sure if that's entirely accurate but since I've heard it more than once on the internet it must have a 15% chance of being true

You are right. The sprinklers are heat activated unless there are UV detectors to activate the entire system but that is more petrochem and aerospace.... Consequently, the sprinklers are more for cooling, allowing people to get out and buying time for the FD to arrive before the entire facility is lost.

 

[hughespat57]

This is a new "state of the art" automated rack storage in Florida with full foam aircraft hanger type fire suppression.
This was the certification test.
Gulf Star Marina

 

[Creekwood]

It would be absolutely heart breaking to get that call in December (or ever!) knowing what it likely means for your upcoming boating season.

Can you imagine what this must do to the local used boat market after the insurance companies send out those checks? That's a big building...gotta be a lotta boats in there.

And the market was bad enough last year. Prices high, lots of buyers, not a lot of good used boats. I have agreed value insurance, but the agreed value is now probably less than replacement cost of the same boat in today's market.

 

[M Prod]

That's one heck of an insurance claim. So sad.

 

[sbw1]

How would you even begin to figure out how it started ?

Fire Marshalls are pretty good at figuring these things out. The working initial assumption is arson until that can be ruled out. Once the fire is out, it will be considered a crime scene and the sorting will begin.

 

[Blueone]

Here is a pic inside the building that burned today.... the center gets filled with bigger boats for winter storage

 

[Great Lakes]

So many boats gone. Awful day for those fellow boaters

 

[Strypes]

 

[J.Wilt]

Our boat is inside heated storage and I stopped by the marina to check on some work being done on it today. Mentioned this fire to the owner of our marina because they had a fire about 7 years ago in the same warehouse my boat is in, someone was working with a torch, several boats were totally lost but their sprinkler system put out the fire. Every boat in the warehouse had extensive smoke damage and he said when the sprinklers went on and the water hit the hot fiberglass smoke each boat was covered in a muddy soot, he said that the soot stained the fiberglass and was very hard to fix, also every boats canvas had to be replaced.
I think I’d rather have a total loss.
They have very strict rules now, can only enter building during their working hours, absolutely no power tools or buffers can be used inside except by their employees.

 

[Woody]

Our facility doesn't have any policy, at least not enforced.
Sad, there is no reason whatsoever to leave a boat plugged in or have batteries connected over the winter. If I want to work on the boat, I just plug in an extension cord. The charger/converter runs any 12v lights, electronics, etc. don't have to put the cables back on the batteries. Unplug when i leave. I hate seeing other boats plugged in in our building.
No sprinklers, we're cold storage.

A dry sprinkler system can be put into cold storage but they require monitoring if you expect them to actually work when needed. I store in indoor heated, no sprinklers. There is little activity in the buildings until spring but when I go up there I have found boats plugged in, unattended, they're not supposed to be.

I stay on the boat when I visit it. I'm going to rethink that. I could get trapped in a fire, I could save the day and put out a fire, or I might get blamed for the whole thing. Darn, nothing is simple...

 

[Blueone]

Not much left

 

[J.Wilt]

Fire investigators are going to have a hard time finding the source with that much carnage.

 

[1956olds]

I have been in that bldg. It housed the repair shop, parts warehouse, offices and restraunt,also the fuel dock was on the north end of that building.I heard there were some $1m dollar boats in there for winter storage and repairs.They most likely lost all of thier tools and equipment to do repairs and diagnostic work.

 

[Blueone]

 

[Stee6043]

Not much left
View attachment 95937

It's amazing they were able to keep those blue buildings safe. Very impressive.