Sessional_Paper_1900 — Page 221

HONGKONG.

215

No. 12

1900

REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE BRIGADE FOR THE YEAR 1899.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

POLICE OFFICE. HONGKONG, 6th February, 1900.

SIR, I have the honour to submit the following report on the Government Fire Brigade for the year 1899.

2. There were 31 Fires and 97 Incipient Fires during the year. Details regarding each are attached. The Brigade turned out 38 times during the year.

The estimated damage cansed by the fires was $829,814 and by the incipient fires $354.

3. Very serious damage was caused by the fire at Nos. 24 and 25, Praya, Kennedy Town, which was undoubtedly caused by the careless storage of cotton which had become wet by rain falling at the time.

But the year will be remembered by the disastrous fire at the Cháp Yik Godown in Hing Lung Lane by which property to the value of some $500,000 was destroyed. The fire originated among some matting on the upper floor of a compartiment of the godown on the ground floor of which were stored in close proximity large quantities of sulphur and saltpetre.

The Brigade, which had had timely notice of the fire, was engaged in extinguishing it and there is no doubt would have done so before the fire could have spread to any of the seven adjoining compart- ments of the godown, when a violent explosion took place which blew a portion of the roof off that particular compartment of the godown and shattered a portion of its walls.

One of the firemen was seriously burnt about the face and hands, and injured about the head by falling bricks, and narrowly escaped with his life.

A few minutes afterwards another terrific explosion occurred. The remainder of the roof was lifted off that half of the godown which is on the East side of Hing Lung Lane, and an immense mass of burning matter was blown into the air to a height of from 50 to 60 feet while the four compartments of the godown on the opposite of the lane were set on fire.

The roof of an adjoining building on the East side was seriously damaged, and a building in Queen's Road West at a distance of 100 yards was ignited by burning débris and completely destroyed. There was a very large quantity of Chinese crackers stored in the Cháp Yik Godown, but not in the immediate proximity of the seat of the original fire. Owing to the fact that the Brigade were diven out of Hing Lung Lane by the first explosion it is impossible to absolutely locate the seat of the second explosion, but I think there is little doubt that it occurred on the ground floor of the compartment (known as No. 4 Godown) in which the fire originated.

4. A searching enquiry was held by the Acting Police Magistrate into the origin of and cir- cumstances attending this fire, and Captain LANGHORNE, of the Royal Artillery and Ordnance Depart- ment, gave evidence regarding the capacity for explosion of Chinese fire crackers, while Mr. F. BROWNE, Government Analyst, gave evidence on the subject of explosion caused by the fusing of saltpetre and sulphur.

The evidence of these gentlemen is of so much importance that I append a copy of it.

5. The danger arising out of the uncontrolled storage of fire crackers is one that had not escaped attention, and long before this fire occurred proposals were under consideration for guarding against it, and a Bill is about to be introduced into the Legislature dealing with the subject.

There are no regulations for the storage of sulphur or saltpetre, and this is a matter which is now receiving attention. I confess it had escaped me before.

6. A list is attached shewing the number of fires that have occurred during each of the last ten

years with the estimated value of property destroyed in each case.

7. The water in the mains was not turned off at any time during the year.

8. I attach a list of places where Fire Despatch Boxes are kept and copy of a report by the

Engineer on the state of the Fire Engines, which are all in good order.

9. The Fire Station at Yaumati was strengthened during the year by transferring thither a steam Fire Engine and the necessary staff to work it.