johnmck 118 Report post #1 Posted May 23, 2018 Saw this today on Facebook. Just to let you all know, Ariel has suffered a serious fire and will be out of commission until further notice. We are hoping to arrange alternative transport to keep our services in operation and we will let you know as soon as the plans are firm. As you can imagine, this is extremely distressing and we appreciate your patience and value your continued support. We will keep everyone updated, thanks. Chin up Liam. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Athy 901 Report post #2 Posted May 23, 2018 I could find no reference to this event on Facebook. Just for those who are unaware, 'Ariel' is a coal boat operating in the North-West. Let's hope that she's speedily repaired and returned to service. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnmck 118 Report post #3 Posted May 23, 2018 (edited) On the Longford canal services FB page, dated 22/05. Apologies for the spelling error in Ariel. Edited May 23, 2018 by johnmck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RLWP 1448 Report post #4 Posted May 23, 2018 https://www.facebook.com/longfordcanalservices/?hc_ref=ARRf8y4WmTp9B9LH4yY-dKG9MAH-Xvj89wtHrIsxiXhPxI9k2Atbvcc5FMpHEGoERaU&fref=nf Richard Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Athy 901 Report post #5 Posted May 23, 2018 6 minutes ago, johnmck said: On the Longford canal services FB page, dated 22/05. Apologies for the spelling error in Ariel. I hadn't noticed (it's still early), but have now amended it. I went to Facebook and typed "Ariel boat fire" in the search box, but got only references to a fire in the Chicago area. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MJG 2267 Report post #6 Posted May 23, 2018 Liam of course is a member here. https://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?/profile/365-liam/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alan_fincher 2545 Report post #7 Posted May 23, 2018 39 minutes ago, MJG said: Liam of course is a member here. https://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?/profile/365-liam/ As is Kerry...... https://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?/profile/6589-kez/ Must be fairly devastating for them - how very sad, but at least no reports of anybody hurt. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RLWP 1448 Report post #8 Posted May 23, 2018 Kerry has launched this: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ariel?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Yimbyprojectpage&utm_content=ariel&utm_campaign=projectpage-share-owner&utm_term=An6Vdnbee Richard Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
reg 286 Report post #9 Posted May 23, 2018 (edited) Just giving this a nudge to the top. Nice to see the response on justgiving has rapidly surpassed the modest request. One of the joys of boating is hearing the sound of an approaching fuel boat in the mist of winter. Hope you soon get back on your feet again. Edited May 23, 2018 by reg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kawaton 21 Report post #10 Posted May 23, 2018 3 hours ago, MJG said: Liam of course is a member here. https://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?/profile/365-liam/ One of the forums earliest members (also at the time THE youngest member). I remember when he bought that boat. Hope all turns out well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
carlt 3216 Report post #11 Posted May 24, 2018 Liam was one of the first folk to respond with kind words when my boat was destroyed by fire many years ago. So sad that you have lost precious things but relieved that nobody was hurt. I hope repairs are swift and hassle free. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
captain birdseye 42 Report post #12 Posted May 24, 2018 They are a great couple of people, I hope they can get back to normal as soon as possible Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Liam 39 Report post #13 Posted May 25, 2018 (edited) Thank you to everyone. Massively overwhelmed by everybody's generosity, offers of help and support and best wishes. Fortunately nobody was hurt. Me and Kerry (and Tommy dog!) are slowly getting back into the right frame of mind now to move forward and get the ball rolling with rebuilding the boat and business. There's lots to sort of course but we'll get there. Liam Edited May 25, 2018 by Liam 8 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RLWP 1448 Report post #14 Posted May 25, 2018 If you need anything Lister, let us know 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
captain birdseye 42 Report post #15 Posted May 25, 2018 Glad to hear you are all OK. As everybody has said if you need a helping hand with anything just ask. Hope to see you next month Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Liam 39 Report post #16 Posted May 25, 2018 3 hours ago, RLWP said: If you need anything Lister, let us know Thanks Richard. Although not fully investigated yet it appears the engine and gearbox have managed to survive the fire pretty well, albeit covered in a layer of soot! Hopefully one day I can give you a shout regarding the gearbox which we spoke about some time ago. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Mack 674 Report post #17 Posted May 25, 2018 The photos on Facebook look horrific. I'm just so glad nobody was hurt. I see that Aeriel has a door through from back cabin to engine room, so at least there are two routes out when something like this happens. Those of us with back cabins with only one exit, and that right next to the stove, will be wondering if there are any lessons we can learn to improve our own safety. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Liam 39 Report post #18 Posted May 26, 2018 The boat was rebuilt without the 'ole through from the back cabin to the engine room. Practicality meant that this was put in place a few years ago. It's a double edged sword as the doorway through meant that the fire/heat/smoke was able to penetrate through to the engine room which resulted in melted electrics and damaged tools, coats etc. But a small price to pay if it gives anybody in the cabin a second route out. Fortunately I wasn't on the boat at the time, but close enough to run back when the alarm was raised. Tommy was with me on the bank and apart from a few sacrificial burns to my forearms whilst extinguishing the fire, everybody is fine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dmr 777 Report post #19 Posted May 26, 2018 To try to get something positive out of this.... You were off the boat and had a serious stove/backcabin fire, I assume any fire extinguishers were in the boat, so how did you manage to successfully tackle the fire? Hopefully we can all learn a lot from this as I have often pondered what I would do in this situation. Your boat was looking very good on the Weaver recently so hope you can get back up and boating before too long. ................Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Liam 39 Report post #20 Posted May 26, 2018 After realising what was happening I ran back from the yard office where I was having a brew and a chat and grabbed a bucket from the shed and in a frenzied manner hurled several buckets of canal water in through the open stern doors. The yard manager was hot on my tail and in a more reasoned frame of mind grabbed a hose pipe from the adjacent mooring and took over with extinguishing. Fire extinguishers are located in the cabin and one in the engine room but with the heat and smoke/fumes made it impossible and completely stupid to even try and reach them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
X Alan W 223 Report post #21 Posted May 27, 2018 Sorry to hear of your problem hope that repairs can be completed to enable you to return to trading Could I ask how if you know how the fire started the reason I ask is my ex "Josher Lily" suffered a bad cabin fire due to over flowing/leaking oil cabin lamp It's taking a while to repair Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheBiscuits 1398 Report post #22 Posted April 28 On 26/05/2018 at 13:53, Liam said: After realising what was happening I ran back from the yard office where I was having a brew and a chat and grabbed a bucket from the shed and in a frenzied manner hurled several buckets of canal water in through the open stern doors. The yard manager was hot on my tail and in a more reasoned frame of mind grabbed a hose pipe from the adjacent mooring and took over with extinguishing. Fire extinguishers are located in the cabin and one in the engine room but with the heat and smoke/fumes made it impossible and completely stupid to even try and reach them. After a sarky comment on another thread, I felt obliged to resuscitate this one ... The fire extinguishers on a boat are there for one reason only - so the people can get off the burning boat! That's it, end of! I was so sorry to see Ariel burn, but the boat can be refurbished with another interesting chapter in her history. The people are harder to replace ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
frahkn 140 Report post #23 Posted April 29 10 hours ago, TheBiscuits said: After a sarky comment on another thread, I felt obliged to resuscitate this one ... The fire extinguishers on a boat are there for one reason only - so the people can get off the burning boat! That's it, end of! I was so sorry to see Ariel burn, but the boat can be refurbished with another interesting chapter in her history. The people are harder to replace ... While totally agreeing with the sprit of what you say; in fact people are easy to replace. In fact, right now more spares are being made than are likely to be needed except in the most unlikely of circumstances. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alan de Enfield 3592 Report post #24 Posted April 29 18 minutes ago, frahkn said: While totally agreeing with the sprit of what you say; in fact people are easy to replace. In fact, right now more spares are being made than are likely to be needed except in the most unlikely of circumstances. And its quite pleasurable as well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sirweste 48 Report post #25 Posted April 29 53 minutes ago, frahkn said: While totally agreeing with the sprit of what you say; in fact people are easy to replace. In fact, right now more spares are being made than are likely to be needed except in the most unlikely of circumstances. Totally wrong, the hours required to upbring and train a useful adult human is significantly greater than pretty much all manufactured items Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
