Fire_Brigade_1958-1959 — Page 13

first floor and when the front and rear exit doors were opened spread to the first floor of No. 102 and quickly rendered both front and rear staircases impassable due to the intense heat and smoke. Seven deliveries from 4 fire appliances and 4 fire hydrants were used and the fire was brought under control at 12.18 hours. Stock and machinery for the manufacture of buttons were severely damaged by fire, 3 other factories and their contents on the second and third floors were slightly damaged by fire and water, and the contents of the mezzanine floor were damaged by water. Seven occupants of the building were rescued by the Fire Brigade with fire escapes, and 4 women escaped by means of a ladder from the window sill on the 4th floor to the adjacent

tenement.

15th December, 1958– No. 288, Tung CHAU Street, Kowloon

A call was received at 05.48 hours on 15th December, 1958, to a fire at No. 288, Tung Chau Street, a 5-storey building con- taining weaving and knitting factories and a cotton store. The fire was caused by sparks from the electric motor of a weaving machine igniting the cotton. Seven fire appliances responded to the call with 2 ambulances. On arrival at the fire the Fire Brigade found the ground and mezzanine floor on fire and the building full of smoke. Six jets were immediately brought into operation to assist in rescue operations and to confine the fire to its original area. This operation was successful and the fire finally extin- guished at 06.40 hours. Seven work people who had been cut off by the fire and could not make their escape from the building were rescued by firemen with the Brigade's fire escapes. The remainder of the staff were marshalled down a staircase by the Fire Brigade. It is gratifying that in this serious fire the Fire Brigade were able to rescue all those who were cut off by the firc.

2nd March, 1959-Boundary Street

At 07.15 hours on 2nd March, 1959 a call was received to a fire on Crown Land behind the market at Boundary Street, where single and two-storey wood, sheet-metal and stone huts had been built and were used as workshops and dwellings. The fire was caused by sparks from an electrical short circuit which ignited timber and paper in the cockloft of Hut No. 6, and spread to adjoining premises. Three Pump/escapes, three Pumps, an Emergency Tender, a Turntable Ladder, two Hose Lorries, two Trailer Pumps and three Ambulances were in attendance. The

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