We have seen before how devastating a boat fire on a river or canal can be.

A mother and two children died on the canal in Oxford in 1996. Today, we are reporting the death of another victim.

People who tackled the latest blaze complained that canal-side firefighting equipment was padlocked, and they had not been issued with keys. British Waterways insisted that all licensed boat owners had been given keys.

Clearly, safety procedures have fallen down.

British Waterways has a duty to make sure that all possible precautions are taken against fire and other emergencies.

But owners must also take some responsibility. Would not someone with a hammer have been able to break open the padlock?

Given that boats are often moored in remote areas, owners cannot always expect an instant response from the emergency services.