Fire_Services_1966-1967 — Page 37

4th Alarm-Smithfield, Hong Kong

147. During the afternoon of 21st January 1967 a call was received to a fire on the 8th floor of a 9 storey factory building, approximately 142 feet by 200 feet. The 8th floor was used as a canteen, office and store for finished plastic products.

148. Fire fighting operations were seriously hampered by the obstruction to staircases caused by storage of packing materials and finished products. One male worker who had attempted to fight the fire with a fire extinguisher became trapped and called for help from an 8th floor window. A turntable ladder with a fireman at the head was extended to its maximum height but was still some three feet below the window. The fireman reached out and literally snatched the worker to safety.

149. The fire which was very severe was extinguished in just over three hours. The cause is believed to have been sparks from an electric welding machine igniting wood shavings and the financial loss is estimated at $1,194,000.00.

Ship Fire-m.v. Chung King

150. On the morning of 26th January 1967 a fire broke out on board the m.v. Chung King (5,831 gross tons) moored to buoy A27 in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong.

151. On arrival of the fire boats it was found that the tween deck under the wings of No. 3 hold containing baled jute was well alight. Heat and smoke made it quite impossible for Fire Service personnel to work in the hold. The hold was therefore battened down, all ventilators sealed and large quantities of carbon dioxide gas were injected into the hold until the following day. In the meantime the ship had been moved under its own power to a berth in Taikoo Dock- yard. On Monday, 30th January 1967 firemen wearing breathing apparatus entered the hold to damp down and work out the cargo but had to withdraw as the fire increased in intensity. A concentrated direct attack on the fire was then made gradually reducing the heat, thus allowing the working out of the baled jute to commence. Breathing apparatus teams stood by until the hold was finally cleared on 2nd February 1967.

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