Fire_Services_1962-1963 — Page 27

created by roof squatters. The capital value placed at risk by the latter exceeded $1 million.

Fire on board 'Sea Dragon'—3,279 tons

81. A little after 9 a.m. on 8th December, 1962, Fire Boat No. 2 was despatched to the 3,000-ton 'Sea Dragon' at anchor south of Stonecutters Island. This ship was undergoing extensive internal alterations to provide refrigerated space for soft fruit carrying in the Far East. On arrival, the Officer Commanding found Nos. 3 and 4 holds well alight with flames shooting to mast-head height. Within one hour the vessel developed a list in excess of 10 degrees, and the Marine Department Officer attending recommended a cessation in fire fighting operations. The joint problem facing the two Departments concerned was the very real risk of this vessel capsizing and causing obstruction in the fairway. From 10.30 to just after midday Fire Boat No. 2 stood off spraying the superstructure, hoping that the fire below, which appeared to be confined to insulating material, would burn itself out. At 1 p.m., the list remain- ing at 10 degrees. Fire Service personnel resumed operations on board. Almost immediately, however, the list commenced to increase and the ship was again evacuated. No. 2 Fire Boat was replaced by the ‘Alexander Grantham' for the joint objective of allowing the ship includ- ing the superstructure to burn out, (hoping thereby to reduce her top weight) and to cut holes into the starboard side so that attempts could be made to pump water out of the starboard deep tanks. The fire con- tinued to rage throughout the night with the ‘Alexander Grantham' in attendance, and by 9.30 a.m. with the superstructure destroyed, the list had been reduced to 14 degrees. The 'Alexander Grantham' was employed throughout the day to cool the vessel down preparatory to it being boarded. Early in the morning on 10th December, 1962, officers of the Marine and Fire Services Departments proceeded on board the vessel, the latter extinguishing the small fires which remained. The 'Sea Dragon' was later sold as scrap for the sum of $313,000. Disappointing as operations of this kind are to the Fire Service, in view of the events of typhoon 'Wanda', the primary concern of the Marine and Fire Services Departments was to avoid the vessel capsizing in the fairway. In this respect, operations were successful.

Fuk Wah Village, Kowloon

82. The second most serious squatter fire of the season broke out a little before 10 p.m. on 11th January, 1963, when Fuk Wah Village became involved in fire which, under a 14-knot north easterly wind,

17