were ordered to the scene; reinforcements were sent from Hong Kong and the Auxiliary Fire Services were mobilized. Part of this force prevented the fire from spreading to the Petrol Station and Kowloon-Canton Railway locomotive sheds nearby, while the remainder made a concentrated attack from the Chatham Road frontage. There, it had become imperative to maintain three appliances in order to minimize the effect of the fire on adjoining built-up areas. Because of the high wind and hilly terrain, fire fighting operations were both difficult and hazardous but after two hours the fire was brought under control. Four people lost their lives and 11 others were injured in this fire which destroyed, or severely damaged, over 1,000 squatter huts.
NATHAN
19th February, 1961-FIRE AT THE BUCKINGHAM Restaurant, Nathan
ROAD, KOWLOON
A serious fire broke out in the Buckingham Restaurant, Nathan Road, Kowloon, on 19th February, 1961 at 0506 hours. Arriving at the scene, the first turn out party found flames shooting out from the fourth and fifth floor windows of the 13 storey building. A message was sent back to the Kowloon control for additional fire appliances from other stations in Kowloon and Hong Kong; there were immediately despatched to the scene. 12 hose deliveries and four monitors were quickly brought into operation to prevent the fire from spreading to the upper floors. The fire was finally brought under control at 0528 hours. Two firemen sustained slight injury during the operation. The contents of the Restaurant and the nightclub were severely damaged.
SPECIAL SERVICES
3. Some of the more serious disasters which required the services of the Department are mentioned below:
6th May, 1960-FLOODS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES
On the 6th May, 1960 heavy rain caused widespread flooding in the New Territories. The Fire Services, co-operating with the Police and the Armed Forces, went to work with lines, life-boats and dinghies and rescued in all 57 people from flooded areas around Yuen Long and Tai Po. 14 people lost their lives in these floods and serious damage was done to houses, crops and livestock.
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