CO129-614-1 Commission of Inquiry into fire at West Point- report 26-5-1949 - 22-12-1949 — Page 36

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

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CHAPTER V

ድጉ

THE MEASURES TAKEN BY THE FIRE BRIGADE TO CONTROL

AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE.

36

Time of Arrnival of Appliances:

33 We hoard a very considerable volume of cvidence on the action

taken by the Fire Brigade to control the fire. We had at our disposal the Central Fire Station Occurrence Book, brief reports by all the senior officers present at the fire, and statements made by the Sub-Of- ficers in charge of appliances. At Appendix 2 will be found a list of

the times of departure of appliances compiled from the diary, and an es- timate of their tires of arrival at the fire area, We have not attempted a detailed description of the fire althougn we heard much evidence about the earlier stages, but have concentrated on those essential points, to the examination of which attention must be directed in assessing any re- sponsibility for loss of lize and damage attaching to the Fire Brigade.

340 It is clear from the Occurrence Book that at 0830, i.e, within

25 minutes of the tweak of the fire, there were five appliances on the scene, The Aeling Cher offico, M. Cal. Brand, arrived at about 0822. By that time the tonements e 1 goʻown No, 5 were well alight,

and rescue operations fully A progress. On examination of the evidence, it appears that there was little pocibility of saving from destruction either the tenements or godom No. 5, on the officer in charge of op- erations mist largely have been concenel with the prevention of fire spreading to adjoining hilings and getting a firm hold in godown No.

2. Mr. Bran told us thut on arival he was aware that there was a fire blaring in the interior of godown No. 2, because he day water being played upon it from the seaword side of the wall across Whitty Street, but he himself dil not see this fire till after rescue operations had

been completed,

Action taken by the Chief Officer to Combat the Fire in Godown No. 2: 35. The Chief Officer was concemed with rescue operations during the initial stages of the fire. These were boing skilfully and courageously carried out and we believe that all possible steps to save life were

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