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A boat fire in Collier County on September 7, 2015, sent one person to the hospital. Another boat fire in August 2015 in the Intracoastal led to an evacuation of a Palm Beach County waterfront restaurant.

The U.S. Coast Guard reports that there were 634 boating accidents in 2014. Of those 634, 44 were due to fire or explosion. Boat fires are more dangerous than land fires because of environmental issues and potential distances involved. Firefighting assistance may take time to arrive at the scene. Also, evacuation proves more difficult because the only place to evacuate is the water.

What are the common causes of boat fires?

A U.S. Boat survey showed the following causes of boat fires:

• Faulty wiring/electrical failure - 55%
• Engine transmission overheat - 24%
• Fuel Leak - 8%
• Miscellaneous - 12%
• Stove - 1%

Faulty wiring and electrical failure is the top cause of boating fires. Boating Magazine says that a lot of pressure is put on a boat's wiring because of the vibration, pounding, salty air, engine-space heat, exposure to chemicals and other rigors of the marine environment. Investigations found that in more than half of the fires, the most common problem was wire chafing. Vibration, hull flexing and moving components can quickly result in chafe, which can in turn result in wires being crossed, circuits shorting out and other dangers.

Also, when boaters exceed the equipment manufacturer’s recommended fuse rating, or maximum amperage rating of the supply wire, there may be a failure of the fuse to protect the electrical equipment properly. This could result in fire aboard the boat, according to Charter Lakes Marine Insurance Agency.

It is recommended that electrical connections be checked regularly for tightness and corrosion because over time the marine environment may cause the connections to be compromised and may cause the wire insulation to melt and potentially cause a fire.

"Boat fires may also be caused because of a defect, or multiple defects, which are unrelated to maintenance," said Fort Myers Boating Accidents Lawyer, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

Can boat and boat parts manufacturers be held liable for boating accidents?

Since May 2015 there have been multiple recalls of boats and boat parts which have the potential of causing boating accidents including fires. Depending on the circumstances of the case, a manufacturer or a seller of a boat or its parts, supplies, or equipment may be liable for injuries caused by fuel leaks, fire-producing defects, defect in the boats steering or starting controls, or any other manufacturing defects according to the Boat Owners Association of the U.S.

The U.S. Coast Guard, through its Recreational Product Assurance Branch, is responsible for developing and enforcing Federal safety standards, investigating consumer complaints, and interpreting Federal standards. More specifically, this includes, but is not limited to:

• Inspecting and testing recreational boats for compliance.
• Investigating consumer complaints involving alleged safety defects and non-compliance with Federal standards.
• Issuing recalls of recreational boats and associated equipment.
• Encouraging development of voluntary safety standards for recreational boats by international and national standards organizations.
• Interpreting Federal standards.
• Handling requests for exemptions to Federal standards.
• Assigning Manufacturer Identification Codes (MICs) to boat manufacturers.
• Publishing the Boating Safety Circular newsletter.

"If you or a loved one has been injured in a boating fire, contact the attorneys at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys to determine your rights," said Attorney Spivey.

Fort Myers Boating Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.