Fire_Brigade_1957-1958 — Page 8

used as dwellings, shops and small workshops with their contents were destroyed by fire. The fire was extinguished by the Fire Brigade at 18.34 hours; no casualties occurred.

13th June, 1957–

A fire broke out on the 2nd floor of No. 113, Prince Edward Road, Kowloon, a three-storey brick, stone and reinforced con- crete frame tenement with pent house and wooden structures on roof. The heat from the fire was intense due to the illegal storage of thinners, and other dangerous goods involved in the fire on the second floor, part of which was used as a hat factory. Eleven persons suffering from extensive burns were rescued by the Fire Brigade with the Fire Escape Ladders and were removed to hospital by Fire Brigade ambulances. The fire, which was a fierce one, was brought under control and extinguished by eight hose lines strategically sited at various positions around the building. One Turntable Ladder was also in use at the outbreak. The fire call was received at 03.35 hours and was brought under control at 03.57 hours. Three dead bodies, two of female adults and one of a male child, were recovered from the debris by the Fire Brigade during their search of the building. It was perfectly obvious that these three persons lost their lives before the arrival of the Fire Brigade. Two of the persons rescued by the Fire Brigade during the fire died later in hospital due to severe burns. 1st August, 1957-

At 03.02 hours on 1st August, 1957, a fire broke out in No. 6, Upper Ship Street at the junction of Un Chau/Tonkin Streets, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon. The fire had gained a firm hold, began to spread very rapidly and eventually involved an area approximately 300×200 feet which consisted of single and two- storey wooden structures, timber stores, saw mills, and other small industries. The Fire Brigade responded to the call and six fire appliances, two ambulances, a radio van and a fire-boat were despatched to the scene of the outbreak. Eleven hose deliveries from four motor fire appliances and No. 2 Fire Boat were quickly brought into commission. The Fire Brigade's main efforts were directed to preventing the fire from spreading to the adjoining area consisting of new factories. The firemen encountered many difficulties in the carly stages of the fire on account of the heat originating from the timber stores which covered a wide area.

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