spread rapidly up the hillside. One person was burnt to death, 3 injured and nearly 2,000 made homeless. The estimated loss to the villagers was in the order of $200,000.
Hill Road, City of Victoria, Hong Kong
83. One of the most dramatic fire situations of the year occurred a little after 2 a.m. on 31st January, 1963, in a 5-storey R.C.C. building in Hill Road. On arrival the ground, second and third floors were well alight from Nos. 443 to 453 on the Queen's Road West side and No. 21 Hill Road. 62 people were trapped above the fire on the decorative coping stone of these buildings some 60 feet above the street and were rescued by the Fire Service, but not before some had sustained injuries. 9 people died and 15 were injured, including 3 members of the Service. Not unnaturally, in the process of rescuing such large numbers and searching the buildings for others whilst awaiting reinforcements, the fire continued to spread, taking as a result 24 hours before it could be brought under control. The area affected was 600,000 cubic feet. The rapidity of spread and the fact that so many people were trapped, was due to the alterations which have taken place in this building over the years. Part was used as a school, and there is little doubt if a fire had occurred during school hours the death roll would have been very much greater. The cause was determined as being due to the overheating of an electric motor in a cooler when the safety device against overload failed to operate. The resultant heat built up quickly ignited several cases of alcohol and surrounding merchandise, trapping in the cockloft above a family of 7. Whilst no one can be satisfied with fires of this nature, our officers obtained a sense of achievement in the fact that the prompt attendance of a rescue tender designed by them and taken into commission some 6 months previous to the fire was directly and posi- tively responsible for saving 38 lives.
Cheung Wah Street, Kowloon
84. One of the most serious fire situations in Kowloon during the year developed just before 6 a.m. on 30th January, 1963, in a timber yard and box making factories near the waterfront at Cheung Sha Wan. The fire spread rapidly under an 11 knot north easterly wind, and placed at risk a block of 6 storey R.C.C. tenements and a number of other timber yards in the area. 2 hours hard work was necessary before the fire was brought under control. 2 persons were injured. Cause of fire-cooking meals over open fire.
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