152. Other rescue teams at this incident succeeded in rescuing 22 people. The fire was brought under control by 04.52 hours using 10 deliveries and 2 water towers (turntable ladders). The damage at this incident was estimated at $100,000.
4th Alarm-Luen Shing Street, Fanling, N.T.:
Suspected Murder and Arson
153. A Police officer entering the Police Frontier Control at Fanling at about 03.27 hours on 2nd March, 1966 saw the glow of a fire in the vicinity of Luen Wo Market, Fanling and promptly called the Fire Service. The normal first alarm attendance for the Market was despatched from Sheung Shui Fire Station and found a book and stationery shop on the ground floor of No. 34, Luen Shing Street, Luen Wo Market, well alight.
154. No. 34, Luen Shing Street is part of a range of 5 storey R.C.C. tenement houses, each pair of houses being served by a single staircase from the ground to roof. An unauthorized opening had been made in the staircase enclosure giving direct access into the staircase from an unauthorized cockloft in the ground floor of No. 34. Through this opening smoke and heat were pouring into the staircase and making entry at ground floor level impossible. The entire shop frontage was also secured by metal sliding shutters which delayed the close assault on the fire until they could be forced open.
155. At 03.31 hours the fire was upgraded to 3rd alarm magnitude. Whilst hose lines were being run out, fire crews hearing cries for help pitched an escape and a double extension ladder to upper floors at the side of the premises by which they rescued 8 persons. Whilst these rescues were being effected the officer in charge raised the call to 4th alarm magnitude, and a by-stander informed him that there were more persons trapped on upper floors.
156. Since penetration of the building from street level was impos- sible a breathing apparatus entry control was set up on the roof, and breathing apparatus entry teams forced entry down the staircase where they located 7 inert victims. The victims were conveyed to Sheung Shui Clinic where they were certified dead on arrival.
157. The fire was brought under control at 04.28 hours, and upon entering the ground floor the body of a young male employee was found severely burnt on a 2 tiered bunk. It was subsequently learned that the younger brother of the dead employee had also been badly
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