Fire_Brigade_1956-1957 — Page 13

MARINE D

MENT LURARY

attack the blaze with deck monitors and deliveries. A Fire Brigade party was also put on board the "Ala" to fight the fire. After the fire was brought under control, the Taikoo tug which also arrived at the scene started to tow the stricken vessel back to Hong Kong. During the journey, the fire broke out again on two occasions, which necessitated stopping the towing opera- tion and the Fire Brigade getting to work on the outbreak. The ship was eventually towed into Junk Bay later in the evening where she was beached for safety. The Fire Brigade stood by and continued to attack the blaze, which was of a serious nature, involving the fuel-oil tanks and the engine-room. After a strenuous battle, the Fire Brigade were successful in confining the fire to its original area and prevented it from spreading to the fore and aft holds. The fire, which originally broke out in the fuel tanks, was confined entirely to the mid- ship part of the vessel. The "Ala" which carried no cargo developed a dangerous list on two occasions, but by careful operations the list was kept within the safety margin and no damage, apart from the fire, was done to the steamer. Damage was claimed to the full insurance cover of £300,000.

SPECIAL SERVICES

6. The number of special service calls was greater than in the previous year. Some of the more serious incidents are

mentioned below:

!

(1) An explosion of a boiler occurred on 27th April, 1956, in one of the workshops of the Kowloon-Canton Railway at Hung Hom. A first alarm call was received by the Kowloon Fire Station by telephone from the Police Radio Control at 3.35 p.m. Two fire appliances from Terminus Fire Station and Kowloon Fire Station responded im- mediately with a Station Officer in charge. On arrival at the scene, it was found that an explosion had occurred and that several persons had been seriously injured. An urgent message for the attendance of extra ambulances was sent back to Kowloon Fire Station. All the casualties were moved to the main entrance and given first-aid treat- ment prior to the arrival of the ambulances. Six of the injured died after admission to Kowloon Hospital.

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