Fire_Services_1965-1966 — Page 43

approximately 4,000 g.p.m. of water was being directed on to the fire; rescue teams had brought out 44 persons including 6 unconscious casualties; and 2 rescue teams had failed to return to the entry control point within the safe limits of their air supplies. 1 team was in contact with the entry control point by walkie-talkie radio and made their way to the roof with a casualty from which they were subsequently rescued by turntable ladder.

164. The whereabouts of the other missing breathing apparatus team were unknown, and strenuous but abortive efforts were made by their colleagues to locate them. This team was eventually discovered marooned at an out building at 4th floor level at the rear of the premises and made their escape to safety by heaving lines thrown to them by colleagues from opposite buildings.

165. Soon after 00.45 hours the first floor flashed over, showering plate-glass splinters on to the personnel and equipment below. Fortunately, fire crews suffered only minor cuts, but several hose lines were severed.

166. The flash-over was, of course, accompanied by an upsurge of fire which threatened adjoining premises on both sides. However, shortly before the flash-over occurred all resources have been deployed in anticipation of this with the tactical objectives of—

(a) stopping the fire vertically at 4th floor level, and

(b) laterally within the building of origin.

Within a short while following the flash-over 7,000 g.p.m. of water were being discharged into and on to the premises by ground monitors, appliance monitors and turntable ladder water towers.

167. Dense smoke continued to be generated throughout the night making conditions even in Nathan Road, which is 100 ft. wide, extremely punishing for fire crews and reducing visibility to zero. So great was the generation of smoke that it was necessary to direct trajectories of water jets by radio from an observation post set up in a building on the opposite side of the road from the fire and to evacuate premises adjoining both sides of the burning emporium.

168. By 05.00 hours it was evident that the tactical objectives were within sight of achievement, and by 06.00 hours fire crews were firmly invested inside most parts of the building.

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