Portland Coastguard has warned boaters to exercise extra caution around petrol engines as the weather gets warmer. This follows an incident last week involving a fire aboard the yacht ‘Circle Game’.

The fire is believed to have started after the fuel tank filler cap was removed by a crewmember. The yacht was fitted with a petrol engine, and it is thought the fumes were somehow ignited.

Portland Coastguard received a call from Poole Harbour on the morning of May 30 notifying them of the emergency. Poole Lifeboats were asked to assist the burning vessel and sent both their all-weather and inshore (pictured) lifeboats. After the six crewmembers were taken off by the harbour launch, the lifeboats succeeded in dowsing the flames using on-board fire fighting equipment. Also on the scene were the Poole Coastguard rescue team and the Dorset Police launch ‘Alarm’.