A BOAT caught on fire in Sale at the weekend.

Fire crews and a water incident unit scrambled to a boat in the canal near Bridgewater Road at 10.50am on Saturday January 14.

They found the 45 foot barge in flames after an incorrectly maintained wood burning stove on board had transferred heat through the chimney to the timber cladding on the exterior.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used a hose reel to extinguish the fire and a high pressured fan to clear smoke and reduce high CO levels detected by a gas monitor.

Fire service staff isolated the fuel and recommended the owner of the boat have all fuel sources inspected by a professional.

Crews were on scene for 90 minutes.