covering an area of about 400 ft. by 150 ft. were severely damaged by fire and five persons suffered slight injuries. 21st October, 1958-FIRE AT HONG KONG AND KOWLOON WHARF
AND GODOWN CO. LTD. PREMISES
A fire call was received at 09.33 hours on 21st October, 1958, to a fire in No. 38C Godown of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Co. Ltd. Ferry Street, Kowloon. Six appli- ances with the Fire Boat ‘Alexander Grantham' and No. 2 Fire Boat were despatched to the scene. 13 hose deliveries from the fire appliances and Fire Boats were used to bring this fire under control and extinguish it. In the early stages of the fire, the Fire Brigade found it extremely difficult to gain access to the seat of the fire; they were continuously driven back by the heat and dense smoke which originated from the bales of the cotton involved in the fire. After cooling down operations, access was eventually gained by firemen using breathing apparatus, but their operations were limited by the extreme heat persisting in the godown which at times became unbearable. After a strenuous battle with fire jets, forward positions were eventually gained and the seat of the fire located. Approximately 7,000 bales of raw cotton were severely damaged by fire, smoke and water, and the godown walls, roof and internal pillars were damaged by the fire and the extreme heat that was generated inside the godown. The remainder of the contents of the godown was also more or less damaged by smoke and water. The fire was eventually brought under control at 12.09 hours.
30th October, 1958-No. 400, Shanghai Street, Kowloon
A call was received at 17.55 hours on 30th October, 1958 to a fire at No. 400, Shanghai Street, which is a 4-storey tenement house, with brick walls, timber floors, tiles on fir poles and joists, pitched roof and timber staircases. The fire was caused by the ignition of petrol and rubber solution by flame from a kerosene stove on the ground floor. On the arrival of the first fire appli- ance, 3 buildings were already involved in a very serious fire and the flames were spreading rapidly to the adjoining tenements. Although Shanghai Street is 40 feet wide, the flames had jumped the road and ignited the front of the tenements directly opposite. The fire was fanned by a strong north-easterly wind, and flames shot high into the sky. Due to the rapid spread of the fire the adjoining tenements were also involved at an early stage and the
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