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Two fishermen abandoned their boat a mile from Newlyn harbour on Tuesday
afternoon when fire broke out on board.
Skipper Jeremy Hosking, of Breage, and a crew mate were returning to
port in the Mizpah when a blaze in the engine compartment of the 30ft
fibre glass crabber forced them to jump over the side and into a life
raft. They were quickly and safely picked up by another passing crabber,
the Little Water, while the new Penlee lifeboat, the Ivan Ellen, was launched
- its fifth call-out since arriving on station.
Coxswain Neil Brockman said the crew of the Mizpah were transferred over
to the Ivan Ellen before the RNLI crew used hoses to douse the burning
crabber with water.
"This stopped it spreading and after that it wasn't clear whether
it had gone out, we could just see smoke. But the skipper did exactly
the right thing when the fire broke out - he got off the boat."
The Mizpah was then towed back into port after harbour master Andrew
Munson inspected her and decided it was safe to do so. Waiting for her
on the South Quay were Penzance firefighters.
In charge of them was station officer Graham Warren, who told The Cornishman:
"When the Mizpah came alongside we surveyed the vessel with a thermal
imaging camera and ascertained the intensity and location of the fire.
"It was going quite well but fortunately the fire was contained
in the engine compartment because the crew had battened down the hatch."
Two crews with breathing apparatus, a hose reel and a carbon dioxide
extinguisher then boarded the vessel.
Added the fire officer: "It was quite a job because it was difficult
to apply water. However, I'm pleased we managed to put it out and I think
they got away with it quite lightly because the damage could have been
much worse."
The Mizpah will remain where she is until insurance inspectors have visited
and it is decided what will happen next to her.
article copyright © THE CORNISHMAN
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