Press Release Dated 6th May 1999
SHIP FIRES REACH A NEW LOW…..
Fires in Royal Navy vessels have dropped to their lowest level since data collection began in its present form in 1990.
Last year there were 84 fires in RN vessels only 12 of which required more than first aid . Highest number of fires since 1990 occurred in 1993 when there were 110 outbreaks, while the previous lowest figure was in 1994 when 87 fires were experienced.
Though the drop may be explained in part by the reduction in numbers of ships and submarines during the decade, the figures are being seen as an encouraging trend.
Most of last years fires - 59 - occurred on surface warships,
13 in submarines and
12 in Royal Fleet Auxiliaries.
The biggest single cause was electrical or electronic problems (28)
and the most common location was in machinery spaces (40).
There were no cases of fire caused by negligence.
Details are published in RN Defence Council Instructions (DCI's) 29/99.
(Extract from 'Navy News' - April 1999)
