FIRE ON SHIP

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 30, 5 February 1941, Page 8

FIRE ON SHIP

BURNING OIL FUEL

NAVAL RATINGS HELP

A TWO-HOUR FIGHT

Suffocating smoke from burning oil fuel was among the difficulties which faced firemen who today fought a fire which broke out aboard a cargo vessel berthed at Aotea Quay. For two hours firemen, assisted by seamen and naval ratings, fought the deep-seated fire, which threw a column of smoke that drifted over the wharves and railway yards.

Some time after 11 a.m. the outbreak was noticed, and several machines were rushed to the wharf.. At first, an attempt was made to smother the flames with foam extinguisher, but it was so difficult to reach the outbreak, located in the bilge and engine-room, that it showed little sign of slackening, and more drastic methods were adopted.

Five machines and a salvage van, shortly reinforced by another powerful machine, were on hand. The three most powerful motor-pumps at the disposal of the brigade were backed against the edge of the wharf, suction intake hoses were dropped, into the harbour, and in quick succession heavy leads of hose were taken aboard the ship to flood out the fire. Within a short time seven leads were taken aboard, and the wharf sang with the hum of the powerful pumps, driven hard. _ . . TOIA HELPS IN FIGHT. J Further relief was at hand, this time from the sea. , The Harbour Board tug Toia was manoeuvred into position alongside the vessel, and two heavy leads were taken from her fire pumps over the side of the ship. From then on for some time, it was just steady pumping, and at last the column of smoke, which had been pouring from funnel, ventilators, and nooks and crannies on the boat deck, grew less dense, and the order went out to stop the water attack.

Along the wharf came a squad of Naval reservists, who were immediately put to work carrying on board toe ship cans of generator powder for the chemical extinguisher. Two lorries, loaded with the powder and foammaking compound, discharged their loads, and the final assault on the fire, this time with chemical means again, was commenced.

It was not long before the fire was killed, and the unused and empty cans of foam-producer were carried ashore by the firemen and Naval men. Although no flames were seen at any stage from the wharf, the thick and pungent smoke which rose above the masts was a beacon which drew | many sightseers, although the scene was well away from the heart of the city. Oxygen apparatus was used by the firemen, especially in the early stages of the outbreak, and an ambulance stood by. Two brigadesmen were treated for the effects of smoke, but neither was sufficiently affected to require removal to hospital.

Fire Brigade officers later expressed appreciation of the gallant efforts of one of the ship's officers, who, though he • had been burned about the shoulders, carried on near the seat of the fire with his work of assisting the brigadesmen.