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MARINE DEPARTMENT LIBRARY |
Sheung Sha Po Village, Kowloon
85. One of the largest financial losses of the year occurred at the fire which broke out a little after midday on 26th January, 1963, just outside the Walled City. The fire involved some 12,000 square feet containing factories producing and storing textiles, plastics, firecrackers, furniture and other miscellaneous products. The property at risk was insured for little over $4 million, and damage amounted to $900,000. A small number of people were made homeless and one person was injured. Of unusual interest at this fire which took 14 hours to subdue was the abnormally high loss, having regard to the low value of the property generally.
Yuen Long, New Territories
86. One person was burnt to death and a considerable quantity of livestock destroyed when a fire broke out just before 11 p.m. on 25th January, 1963, at Sai Yu Chung Village in the New Territories Water had to be relayed over considerable distances across cultivated land, and the Fire Service personnel at Yuen Long had an undoubtedly difficult task.
Des Voeux Road West, Hong Kong
87. 12 people were trapped by, and rescued from, a fire caused by defective electrical equipment which broke out a little after midnight on 26th January, 1963. The fire occurred on the 1st floor of an 8-storey R.C.C. tenement building, smoke and flames immediately blocking means of escape from the floors above. Material damage was slight at $1,000. This fire is of interest in illustrating that life risk is not limited to major fires.
Electric Road, North Point, Hong Kong
88. During Chinese New Year celebrations, a fire on a construction site started by children playing with firecrackers, spread to an adjoining 10-storey R.C.C. building. The fire was brought under control very quickly, but a member of the Fire Service was injured.
Buckingham Building, Nathan Road, Kowloon
89. The most expensive fire of the year broke out in the early hours of the morning of 3rd February, 1963 on the 1st floor of a 12-storey building at 317-321 Nathan Road, Kowloon. The cause of the fire, which injured 6 persons and trapped another 100 on the upper floors, was believed to be a failure of electrical equipment, (most probably an
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