CO129-614-1 Commission of Inquiry into fire at West Point- report 26-5-1949 - 22-12-1949 — Page 42

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metallic sodium which somehow came in contact with water. Although the Fire Brigade wore aware of this fire, the incidence of the great con- flagration two days later prevented its adequate following up. Although much suspicion attached to this Caustic Soda, it was not in close prox- imity to the place of storage of the cinematograph film and it was well scaled up; we think that its instrumentality in the ultimate cause of

the fire may be ruled out.

Contents of Godown No. 5;

46. During the course of his investigations, Mr. Terry prepared a plan of the contents of godown No. 5 as they were found after the fire. Not every substance could be identified, as both the stock-book and the placement-book for the godown were destroyed in the cockloft of Godown No. 2. But after the investigation, it was clear that there were stored in Godown No. 5 the following substances which would be classified as Dangerous Goods under the Regulations to the Ordinance of 1873 :

Category 3

Category 4 (1)

Category 5

Category 6

Category 7

Contents of Godown No. 2:

47.

Calcium Cyanamide

Cellulose Laoquer

Caustic Soda

Phenol Crystals

Aniline Oil

Sodium Bichromate

The stock books of Godown No. 2 survived the fire, and what re- mained of the stock in that godown was found to correspond with that shown in the books. There were in this godown a number of substances which would be Category 8 Dangerous Goods, but there was no objection to stor- age of these goods in that godown without a license, as it was neither partially used for nor connected with domestic premises. There was however some Camphor, which although not specifically mentioned in the regulations, should, because of its flash point, be considered as in Category 4 (2). It is only fair to state that nobody connected with the administration of the licensing regulations considered that it should be