men working at the time of the collapse was 43 and an analysis of the casualties is as follows:
Dead before arrival of Fire Brigade
Dead before arrival at hospital...
Died after admission
Admitted to Wards ...
Discharged (after treatment)
Rescued unhurt
Total Working Party
2
3
1
7
4
26
43
All the injured and dead were rescued from the debris by the Fire Brigade and removed in ambulances to Kowloon Hospital in the short space of 20 minutes.
13th July, 1958-LEAKAGE OF AMMONIA AT 6F, CATCHICK STREET
KENNEDY TOWN
At 22.20 hours on 13th July, 1958, a call was received to the Kenne Ice Factory at 6F, Catchick Street, Kennedy Town, where leaking ammonia gas had overcome two of the employees in the refrigerating plant room. A Fire Appliance, an Emergency Tender and two Ambulances responded to the call. With the aid of breathing apparatus, the firemen turned the control valves of the refrigerating plant off to stop the leakage of the ammonia gas; all the windows were opened and the exhaust fan turned on to extract the remaining gas. Two casualties were removed to Queen Mary Hospital.
FALSE ALARMS
8. There were 100 false alarms of which 35 only were given with good intent. In all cares attempts were made by the Police to apprehend those responsible for originating malicious false alarms.
CAUSES OF FIRES
9. Careless handling and negligent use of inflammable liquids were still by far the most common causes of fires. Indiscriminate discarding of cigarette ends and children playing with matches also caused a large number of house fires. Many fires were traced to the negligent use of electrical appliances and to unprotected and faulty wiring. Inferior makes of kerosene stoves and careless use of such stoves were also common causes of fires.
10