Sessional_Paper_1887-1888 — Page 186

In another case, six Chinese lives were lost. The fire broke out in a room on the first floor and communicated itself to the stair-case before the inmates above were made alive to their danger. There were no means of escape either by the roof or by windows and all six lost their lives.

The last incident that occurred was at an extensive fire in Bonham Strand, where, without a minute's warning, five houses fell outwards across the street resulting in the most serious injuries to Mr. Ross the foreman of the Volunteer Fire Brigade. A member of the Government Fire Brigade was also slightly injured, but to those who witnessed what took place, it was a mercy that no more harm was done than was actually occasioned, as there were at least six firemen whose position at the time seriously jeopardized their lives.

It may not be out of place at the commencement of another year to take stock of the existing con- dition of the Fire Brigade and of its adequacy to meet the requirements of the Colony.

At the present moment the Fire Brigade consists of thirty three Europeans of whom seventeen are firemen, six engine drivers, and the rest, superintendents, foremen, and assistant foremen, and of ninety-one Chinese firemen besides stokers and interpreters. The pay of the European firemen is four dollars and fifty cents a month and that of a Chinese fireman from one dollar and fifty cents to one dollar. The foremen, stokers, and interpreters are of course paid at a higher rate. The Brigade is further strengthened by the services of the Hongkong Fire Insurance Volunteers, the Pawnbrokers, and other bodies all of whom have been present on every occasion of a fire and have rendered most valuable services.

The head quarters of the Fire Brigade are at No. 5 Police Station in Queen's Road. Watchmen are stationed at the Clock Tower and at the Tower of the Fire Brigade Station, and upon an alarm of fire the bells are rung at the Central Police Station, at the Fire Brigade Station and at the Clock Tower. Three separate strokes indicate a fire west of the Harbour Office, two separate strokes a fire between the Harbour Office and the Murray Barracks, and one stroke a fire east of the Murray Barracks.

The Engines are located at the Fire Brigade Station. They are four in number, not including the floating engine which is known as the No. 1 Engine. The latter is located in the harbour near Yau- mati. It is an invaluable engine and can throw four jets of some sixty feet high. It has recently been modified with a view to increasing its speed and it is now capable of steaming at a rate of about eight knots an hour.

In addition to the steam engines I have mentioned, there are also a certain number of manual engines stationed in different parts of the island. So far as the City of Victoria is concerned, there is one at Government House, one at the Central Police Station, one in Hollywood Road, one at the Harbour Office and one at Saiyingpún. There are also boxes with fire appliances in various parts of the Town.

Practically speaking however the main strength of the Brigade is at the Fire Brigade Station. At an alarm of fire in the City of Victoria, a telephonic signal is immediately sent to what is known as the No. 2 Tank. This tank is situated in Caine Road, and supplies the City of Victoria with water from the Pokfulam Reservoir. The water is distributed by two main pipes from which branch out smaller pipes throughout the Town. Its limits are broadly speaking Queen's Road at the foot of Gough Street to the west, Queen's Road to the north and the City Hall to the east. At frequent intervals are what are known as street fire plugs. They are distinguishable by iron plates level with the street, and on removing this iron plate, hose can be attached. Many of these plates have a raised knob on the top of them. The knob is to distinguish them from the other plates that are without them, and indicates that they are stop plugs, that is to say that they are merely for the purpose of shutting off water. Before this distinguishing mark was put, the greatest confusion often resulted, and much time was lost in waiting for water at one of these stop plugs, when there was none to come.

The No. 2 Tank is in its turn supplied from another tank at the western end of Robinson Road. This tank also supplies Caine Road and some other streets. These are the two chief distributions of water from the Pokfulam Reservoir. There are other subsidiary supplies which are strictly local. One is in Glenealy Ravine and supplies the Gaol and Police Barracks. Another is above the Government Civil Hospital and another near the Albany. Wanchai, as far as the City Hall, is supplied from the tank that is to be seen in the Wong-nei-chung Gap.

Generally speaking the fresh water supply is very unsatisfactory. It is uncertain inasmuch as it is not always running, it is inadequate and its pressure is not uniform. Much of its possible pressure is also diminished by leakage throughout the houses in which it is distributed along its route to the fire and by other causes such as the friction of the pipes, and sudden changes in their diameter. In reducing therefore the working of the Brigade to a system, it is impossible to regard the fresh water supply as other than a very poor adjunct, and in almost every instance recourse is had to the harbour.