CARGO ABLAZE

Evening Star, Issue 25470, 28 April 1945, Page 6

CARGO ABLAZE

CARDBOARD ON WAIPIATA LIMITED DAMAGE IK ONE HOLD Fire that broke out yesterday afternoon in the No. 3 hold of the Union Steam Ship Company's coastal vessel Waipiata following welding operations, damaged portion of a large consignment of cardboard sheets. Dense billowing smoke from the'escape hatch of the hold was the first intimation of the fire, and shortly after 3 o'clock four machines with special gear and salvage equipment were despatched to the Victoria wharf from the Central Fire Station, and the blaze was brought under control within 40 minutes.

The expert way in which the fire was attacked by the brigade was responsible for most of the cargo being saved, and this morning the unloading of the undamaged cardboard was commenced. The portion of the consignment that had been damaged by fire and water was unloaded on to the wharf between 6 o'clock and 9 o'clock last night by waterside workers, who were paid 1/w an hour at special salvage rates. No structural damage was done to the vessel itself, but there were several anxious moments in the early stages of the fire, as the amount of smoke suggested that the blaze was firmly established, and might spread to tho adjoining hold, which contained a large quantity of sugar and general groceries.

BLAZE QUICKLY CONTROLLED. The hatches of No. 3 hold were closed as soon as the fire was discovered, and a prompt assessment of the situation by the officer in charge of the brigade indicated that it would not be necessary to bring the powerful pump into action and to flood the hold. Instead, a lead was taken from the city supply, and use was made of the Bresner distributor, this apparatus being utilised to attack a blaze in a confined space and to distribute the water u»der added pressure within an area of 50ft. Another lead of water was also played on the fire, and after nearly threequarter* of an hour it was completely under control. The brigade was assisted in its difficult operations by the fact that there was no wind. After tho blaze had been reduced to the smouldering stage, it was possible to lift the hatch and make an inspection. This showed that comparatively few crates of cardboard, which made up the main cargo in that hold, had been seriously damaged. Most of the damage was due to the thorough soaking which the brigade had given the cargo in extinguishing the blaze. This water, however, was expeditiously pumped out through the bilges, enabling the working of the cargo to he resumed in the evening. The Waipiata arrived from Auckland on Tuesday with a large general cargo, and is to sail to-morrow for Oamaru..