XN000022-1981-07-16 — Page 6

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THURSDAY, JULY 16, 1981

COMMENDATION FOR SIX FIREMEN

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SIX FIREMEN WHO RESCUED TWO MEN FROM THE SLIPPERY AND NARROW LEDGES OF A FACTORY BUILDING IN KWUN TONG WERE TODAY PRESENTED WITH LETTERS OF COMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, MR FREDERICK WATSON.

THE FIREMEN

ALL CREW MEMBERS OF A TURNTABLE LADDER, WERE PRESENTED WITH THE DIRECTOR'S COMMENDATION AT A CEREMONY AT KWUN TONG FIRE STATION.

KOWLOON COMMAND'S CHIEF FIRE OFFICER ANTHONY CONWAY PRESENTED THE COMMENDATION TO PRINCIPAL FIREMAN NG WAI-MING, ACTING PRINCIPAL FIREMAN SZE WAH-MAN AND FIREMEN SIU CHUN-KEUNG, WONG SING-HUNG, LEUNG WING-YUI AND LAM MAN-SUN.

IN PRESENTING THE COMMENDATION, MR CONWAY PRAISED THE CREW MEMBERS FOR EXCELLENT TEAMWORK.

+THIS SHOWS THAT BY EXTENSIVE TRAINING TO HANDLE COMPLICATED APPLIANCES, DIFFICULT ADVERSITIES CAN BE OVERCOME,+ MR CONWAY SAID.

+THE CREW MEMBERS OF THIS TURNTABLE LADDER HAVE SHOWN INITIATIVE AND THE ABILITY TO CARRY OUT THE IR DESIGNATED DUTY IN THE MOST DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES,+ HE ADDED.

THE FIRE BROKE OUT ON THE SIXTH FLOOR OF A FACTORY BUILDING IN WAI YIP STREET ON MAY 19, AND WAS SOON UPGRADED TO NUMBER THREE ALARM.

DURING THE FIRE FIGHTING OPERATION, TWO MEN WERE FOUND BALANCING PRECARIOUSLY ON NARROW LEDGES AT THE BUILDING'S OPEN LIGHT- WELL IN A NARROW LANE AT THE REAR OF THE FACTORY BLOCK.

THE LANE WAS COMPLETELY BLOCKED BY ILLEGAL STRUCTURES, PREVENTING ACCESS TO IT AND THE USE OF MANUAL LADDERS.

THE CREW OF THE TURNTABLE LADDER WAS THEN ORDERED TO RESCUE THE MEN WHO WERE AT THE FOURTH FLOOR LEVEL.

THE RESCUE OPERATION MADE IT NECESSARY TO EXTEND THE MECHANISED LADDER BEYOND ITS SAFETY LIMIT. ANOTHER PROBLEM WAS THAT THE LADDER HEAD COULD NOT BE RESTED AGAINST A WALL.

DESPITE MANY OBSTRUCTIONS, INCLUDING THE PRESENCE OF AIR- CONDITIONER UNITS, THE LADDER WAS SUCCESSFULLY OPERATED AND THE RESCUE OF THE TWO MEN COMPLETED IN THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME.

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