spreading fire on a 100-150 feet frontage. Being close to the sea water supplies presented no great problem but access into the area was hampered by the conglomeration of temporary structures, stockpiles of timber, scrap heaps and the muddy unlevelled and undrained ground. To add to the difficulties of manhandling equipment into position a series of explosions occurred during the early phases and the operations, and continued spasmodically until the fire was extinguished. So serious did the explosions become that at one stage, having regard to the difficult escape routes from the area, all personnel were withdrawn to the boundaries of the fire ground.
117. The fire was brought under control using 23 deliveries and a water tower (turntable ladder) in a little under 2 hours after the time of call. The financial loss at this fire is estimated at $141,000 and the cause is believed to have been the arcing of a defective electrical circuit igniting nearby combustibles.
4th Alarm-Diamond Hill, Kowloon
118. In the early hours of 12th July, 1965 a fire broke out in a hillside squatter area at the above captioned location to which the Fire Service were called at 04.16 hours. The first Fire Service units reached the scene within four minutes of the call and were confronted by an extensive fire which was being driven rapidly along a 350 ft. front by strong winds.
119. The fire was approximately 1 mile from the nearest road, and the uneven terrain and conglomeration of squatter property made the laying of hose lines and the manhandling of equipment extremely difficult. However, in pre-planning for fires in this area a dry pipeline had been installed and this proved of inestimable value in bringing the fire under control.
120. The fire which ultimately extended over 60,000 sq. ft. was virtually extinguished in a little over two hours after the arrival of the first fire appliances.
121. Investigation of this incident by Fire Prevention Bureau officers established that the fire, which involved some 135 huts, and a financial loss of approximately $830,000, started in a glove factory but the cause of fire could not be determined. Investigations also indicated that fire and smoke was first seen by witnesses some time before 03.45 hours, i.e. over 30 minutes before the Fire Service were called and thus the fire had developed to considerable proportion before appliances reached the scene.
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