On 2 June 1979 Robert Butterworth received severe burns while fighting a fire in a boat which was tied to a barge at Richmond, British Columbia. The owner of the boat had filled his fuel tanks and had satisfied himself with a detector that no fumes were present in the bilge. He was on his way to the bridge when there was an explosion and fire broke out in the stern. He and his son were able to escape through a blown-out windshield. Mr. Butterworth, who had been thrown across the barge, tried to put out the fire, but the flames were so hot as to melt the nozzle of his extinguisher. With burnt hands he tried to push the boat away with a pole but soon had to abandon the barge.