A fire extinguisher for a boat must be quickly accessible in an emergency. This is precisely what Firemill aims to achieve with its compact CO₂ quick-action extinguisher. The Swedish device uses a standard 425-gram cartridge for sparkling water makers and is activated by turning the handle at the base of the unit.
For a motorboat’s galley, this is, at first glance, a sensible approach. Carbon dioxide smothers the flame without dispersing powder into cupboards, upholstery, fittings or electrical appliances. Following a small grease fire or a localised flame on an electrical appliance, no extinguishing agent is left behind that would subsequently require laborious removal.
CO₂ cartridge instead of dry powder
Firemill combines a slim design with a replaceable CO₂ cartridge. According to [source], the Original model is Manufacturer’s specifications: 40 centimetres high and 7.5 centimetres thick. With a full cartridge, it weighs just under two kilograms.
The unit should be hung where it is visible and within easy reach. A sensible place would be near the galley, by the passageway to the cockpit or close to a cooking area. The Firemill, however, is not intended for use in the engine compartment. There, suitable hand-held fire extinguishers or permanently installed Fire-extinguishing systems for the engine compartment the better choice.
CO₂ has one key advantage: it leaves no residue. This sets the quick-action extinguisher apart from traditional powder extinguishers, whose extinguishing powder often ends up in every nook and cranny after use. This can be an important consideration for sensitive on-board electronics.
Eight seconds’ extinguishing time
Its small size clearly limits the Firemill’s capabilities. According to The manufacturer’s capacity tests A fully opened cartridge empties in around eight seconds. In the tests, the range was approximately 1.5 metres.
This may be sufficient for a small grease fire in a frying pan, a burning cloth or a flame that is just starting to spread. If the fire has already spread to furniture, wiring harnesses, insulation or fuel, the supply will be used up very quickly.
The tests published by Firemill are based on fire classes A, B and F as defined in the EN 3 standard. However, they were carried out using smaller test set-ups than those specified in the standard for conventional fire extinguishers. The test report explicitly states that the tests were scaled down in terms of duration and dimensions. As such, they provide an indication of the potential for early intervention, but do not specify an EN 3 extinguishing performance rating.
Firemill itself also emphasises that the device does not meet the criteria of a conventional fire extinguisher. This statement is crucial for its use on board: the Firemill complements the safety equipment; it does not replace it.
Useful in the galley, not in the engine room
An additional quick-action fire extinguisher can be useful on a motorboat if the crew spot a small flame straight away and react immediately. Particularly when cooking, the distance to the large fire extinguisher is sometimes too far, whilst the flame grows larger within a matter of seconds.
In the event of electrical fires behind cladding, an engine fire or a major grease fire, a small fire extinguisher with an eight-second discharge time is not sufficient. In such cases, a well-thought-out basic kit is essential. Automatic fire-extinguishing systems in the engine compartment can tackle fires in hard-to-reach places at an early stage. Battery fires also pose specific risks, as the BOOTE-Testing of specialised fire extinguishers for lithium batteries shows.
Its compact design is reminiscent of other handy solutions. BOOTE has already Compact fire extinguishers for small, incipient fires presented. The key question is always the same: How much extinguishing agent is actually available, and for which fire class is the appliance suitable?
Use CO₂ below deck with caution
CO₂ displaces oxygen. Whilst this helps with fire-fighting, it can pose a danger in small, confined spaces. The German Social Accident Insurance issues a warning against the risk of life-threatening suffocation when using CO₂ fire extinguishers in confined spaces.
On small motorboats, this applies in particular to enclosed cabins, wet rooms and storage spaces. Anyone using CO₂ must have a safe escape route. In the event of heavy smoke, an unclear fire situation or a spreading fire, personal safety takes priority. Warn the crew, make an emergency call if necessary, and leave the boat if attempts to extinguish the fire do not appear likely to succeed immediately.
The Firemill should therefore not be seen as an invitation to tackle a fire yourself in every situation. Its strength lies in dealing with small fires detected at an early stage, not in fire-fighting under dangerous conditions.
A useful addition to the on-board equipment
Firemill is not a traditional, compact fire extinguisher for boats. The device is a readily accessible CO₂ quick-response extinguisher designed for small, early-stage fires. Its advantages lie in its residue-free extinguishing agent and ease of use. Its weakness is its very short operating time.
Anyone fitting a Firemill on board should treat it as a galley fire extinguisher: easily accessible, with a full cartridge, and in addition to a suitable hand-held extinguisher and appropriate engine compartment fire protection. Also, a Compact fire extinguisher from Jockel is not a substitute for standard safety equipment.
Book recommendation
Boats - Logbook brings together the most important topics for motorboat owners in a handy format. As well as the rules of the water, navigation and the weather, the book also covers safety on the water and how to behave in an emergency. This ties in with the Firemill theme, as a fire extinguisher is only one part of an effective safety routine on board. The logbook helps you understand procedures before an emergency arises and provides a handy reference guide to the key steps to take.
Would a residue-free quick-acting fire extinguisher be a useful addition to your galley, or do you rely exclusively on traditional fire extinguishers on board?
Michael Rinck
Redakteur Test & Technik