Fire_Services_1960-1961 — Page 9

to protect them while fire fighting operations reduced the fierce- ness of the fire. After 3 hours it was possible to enter the Engine Room Section and rescued 17 men, all of whom after treatment in hospital, recovered. Subsequently five bodies were discovered during investigations to ascertain the cause of the fire, which caused serious damage to the ship's Engine Room and super- structure.

17th December, 1960–Squatter Fire at Tai Hang Tung Road

At 0409 hours on 17th September, 1960, a fire broke out in a squatter hut in a densely populated valley off Tai Hang Tung Road, Kowloon Chai. A force of five appliances and two ambulances responded immediately to the call and on arrival found that the fire had spread rapidly to an area of 800 × 300 sq. ft., involving some 300 structures of brick and wood. Opera- tions began immediately and within one hour of the call, the fire was under control. During that period five injured people were rescued and sent to hospital. Later, dumping and turning over operations uncovered the bodies of four women at the scene of the outbreak where they had apparently been trapped. 5th November, 1960-FIRE AT HONG KONG & WHAMPOA DOCK,

KOWLOON

At 2245 hours on 5th November, 1960, a call was received to a fire at the above premises, Arriving at the scene, the officer in charge of the first turn out party discovered that the fire had gained a firm hold on a steel framed structure with corrugated iron sides and roof, covering an area of about 230 feet X 70 feet, used as a boat shed and carpenter's shop. A fourth alarm was sent back to the control, and additional fire appliances and ambulances were immediately despatched. Nine fire appliances and a fire boat with 10 hose deliveries brought the fire under control in 50 minutes.

16th January, 1961 -FIRE AT VALLEY ROAD SQUATTER AREA, HUNG

HOM, KOWLOON

A serious fire broke out in the squatter area at Valley Road, Hung Hom, in the early hours of 16th January, 1961. A call was received by the Fire Services Control at 0452 hours and the first turn out party arriving on the scene soon after discovered that the fire, fanned by a strong wind, had gained a firm hold and was spreading rapidly. Appliances from all Kowloon stations

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