How is fire handled aboard ship?  Very very carefully.  Lamps have lots of wire shielding over the glass (hurricane lamps), in the galley, the fire is kept in a special firebox, usually brick lined, and hot food was very much a treat.  recipes were quick and simple, theer are numerous accounts of how joyful sailors were at receiving hot mush instead of cold.<br/><br/>During rough weather, even the galley fire was often put out for safety.<br/><br/>Red hot cannonballs were a nifty idea, the French Navy used them, and lost several ships due to accidental fires.<br/><br/>Sorry, history nerdette calming down now.