XN000022-1975-06-14 — Page 5

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SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 1975.

BUSY YEAR FOR FIRE BOATS

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THE SIX FIRE BOATS OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WERE KEPT BUSY LAST YEAR ATTENDING TO SHIP FIRES AND DROWNING CASES.

DURING 1974/75, THE FIRE BOATS FOUGHT 26 SHIP FIRES, THE LONGEST ONE LASTING 45 HOURS AND 41 MINUTES ON BOARD AN OIL TANKER WHICH WENT AGROUND ON APRIL 22, 1974. A TOTAL OF 115 FIREMEN BATTLED THE BLAZE.

THE FIRE BOATS ALSO TURNED OUT ON 36 OCCASIONS, TO HELP SEARCH FOR MISSING SWIMMERS AND OTHER VICTIMS. THEY ALSO ATTENDED TO 12 GRASS FIRES AND TOOK PART IN CLEANING UP OIL SLICKS IN HONG KONG WATERS.

OF THE SIX FIRE BOATS, THE BEST KNOWN IS THE 'ALEXANDER GRANTHAM' WHICH IS BERTHED AT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT PIER. THE OTHERS ARE FIRE BOAT NO. 1, 2 AND 4 BERTHED AT TSIM SHA TSUI, NO. 3 AT ABERDEEN AND NO. 5 AT NORTH POINT.

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