FIREMEN'S DANGEROUS TASK.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 219, 15 September 1924, Page 8

FIREMEN'S DANGEROUS TASK.

i I WORKING WITH SMOKE HELMETS. ' ! ~~~~ ' i (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) , ; WELLINGTON, this day. '■ The gremen who descended the hold ] • to tackle the flames had a most dangerous task. The flames were so thick ! : , and overpowering ihat smoke helmets ' i were needed, but some of the crew went ' " into the hold with only wet handker- < 1 chiefs covering their faces. The oily i copra made good fuel, and the fire, I j which was discovered just after 11.30 i on Saturday night, was not got com- 1 I pletely under till 3.50 a.m. on Sunday - morning. Great praise is due to all the > fire fighters for the manner in which • the flames were prevented from spread- • ing to the other holds. In the after part of No. 4 hold there is stowed a considi erable quantity of oils and paints, and had these ignited the fire would probably have been disastrous. In the forward part of No. 5 hold there is a large quantity of flax, but the flames were prevented from reaching it. The flax was damaged by water, however. It is impossible to estimate the damage, but the loss will be heavy. Apart from damage to the cargo, structural repairs will have to be made to the ship. ' New decking will be required, and pos- > sfbly new plates on the starboard side. ' A new wireless installation will also ' probably have to be obtained, though an ' emergency set was workable on Sunday. • Gangs of men worked yesterday remov- i in" damaged cargo to the Harbour i Board sheds. All of it was loaded at ' Auckland. The cause of the fire is un- < known, though the general opinion l ascribes it •to spontaneous combustion < among the copra. The Kaikoura is a vessel of 8371 tons, owned by the N.Z. Shipping Co., but is running under charter to the Federal Co. The shipping company's snperinten- : dent does not expect the veesel, vmicnwas to have sailed to-day for Lyttelton, . will be long delayed here, but she must , remain in port until Lloyd's surveyor j has reached a decision. :