HEROIC FIREMAN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 102, 1 May 1943, Page 7

HEROIC FIREMAN

HOW A SHIP WAS SAVED

THE SPIRIT OF BRITAIN

How fire fighters from a National Fire Service station at a west of Engiand coast town put out to sea to save a 7000-ton cargo ship which had burst into flames in the Atlantic was told recently in the London "Daily Mail." The ship, heavily laden with war supplies, including high explosives, had changed course and was racing to port. Her crew, handicapped by heavy military stores lashed to the deck, had found it impossible to subdue the fire raging in a deep hold. The seas were running high. The firemen, in a small boat heavily laden with their equipment, sailed for two hours. They reached the smoking ship and were cheered aboard. They at once began to fight the fire. As the ship continued on her course for harbour, a great fire-fighting force was organised on shore. Special equipment was rushed to the harbour from other places. The Chief Regional Fire Officer, Mr. K. A. Varley, was attending a conference in London. A message was handed to him, and he left at once on the 300-mile journey to where he was needed. When the ship arrived reinforcements of fire fighters clambered aboard. For hour after hour they fought the blaze. Some fell out, overcome by smoke. It was decided to flood the burning hold and beach the ship. Before this could be done 70 tons of cargo had to be moved to a barge. The hold was flooded, and when the water was pumped away, other fires broke out because phosphorus from the damaged bombs and explosives ignited on contact with the air. The firemen began to carry the explosives from the hold to safety. Their uniforms and boots burst into flames. Faces and hands were scorched. After 26 hours' continuous work the main fires were out, and Admiralty salvage experts advised that the ship should at once be taken to another port, 100 miles away. The firemen's job was not done. Because of the danger from other fires breaking out on the journey, they accompanied the ship on her hazardous trip. This 7000-ton ship is again afloal> on the high seas, carrying valuable cargo.

Details Later

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