FIRE ON SHIP

Grey River Argus, 16 February 1945, Page 4

FIRE ON SHIP

IN LYTTELTON HARBOUR Breaks Out Afresh P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, February 15. The attempts to quell the outbreak of fire on the inter-Colonial steamer which put back to Lyttelton early on Tuesday morning With part of her cargo of 1000 tons of hay afiie, haxe resulted in the partial sinking of tne vessel as she lies at hei berth in Lyttelton harbour. The fore-foot of the vessel is resting on the bottom of the sea at low tide, while her stern rears high into the air. To-day the fire broke out with increased intensity, and drastic measures had to be taken to get it in check. About 6 o’clock this evening workmen, using acetylene torches, cut a hole in the vessel’s starboard side, just at th e water-line, with the idea of flooding the hold. At this time the vessel was drawing about 20 feet. Later in the evening, renewed attempts were made at fire-fighting, and a collision mat was placed over the hole in the ship’s side. Efforts were also made to remove more of the cargo. There were a number of casualties caused by smoke among the workers. The tug “Lyttelton” was standing by. Two trailer pumps poured water into ,No. 2 hold, where the outbreak of fir e started to-day. Fire-fighting continued throughout the night..

The Vessel Sinks SPREAD OF THE FIRE. NUMEROUS CASUALTIES. P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, February 15. Work had been almost completed in the after hold of the burning ship, in which the original fire occurred, and a start had been made on No. 2 hold, forward of the bridge, when smoke began to rise. This was as soon as some of the hatch covers were removed, and the smoke gained rapidly in density. An alarm was given to the Lyttelton Volunteer Fire Brigade at 3.15 p.m., and immediately afterwards the tug “Lyttelton” was ordered to assist. The fire engine quickly) had three leads of sea water pouring down into the hold. Smok e was pouring from the ventilators on the deck, and from two tall ventilators, almost mast-high, on either side of the .bridge. Seamen quickly climbed these, and sealed them with canvas covers, and everything else was battened down, with the exception of part of the hatch. In the meantime the tug had arrived and was pouring a big volume of water into the hold. These was a scene of intense activity as firemen and watersiders worked around and in the square of the hatch fighting back the fire, while sling after sling of hay was quickly swung from the vessel. All at once, a group of firemen who had been working on top of the hatch were seen to jump down, to return with one of their men, Fireman E. Wanstall, unconscious, from smoke. He was attended by ambulance men, and taken by ambulance to a casualty ward, where, after being treated by Dr. B; H. Gilmour, he made a good recovery, and returned to the fire. In quick succession the Second and Third Officers went down with the smoke, and were carried ■’shore and treated at the dressing station of the Railway Ambulance Division. A squad of ambulance men remained on the wharf, but there were no further casualties. After half an hour’s pumping by the fire engine and tug, it was seen that more fire-fighting plant was needed, and two trailer-pumps were brought into action. The grab-dredge, “Te Whaka”. which is also a firefloat, also tied up alongside the tug, and her plant was brought into action.

About 6 o’clock the ship began to take a list to starboard, and to sink by the head, due to the immense volume of water which had been pumped into the hold. Smoke also was seen coining from the' No. 1 hold. The list became so threatening that electric cranes were hastily moved away, and the work of unloading ceased. Then the fir e engines were stopped and moved away. The list steadily grew worse, and the crew were ordered ashore, with theii' belongings, only a few officers and men remaining. Apparently it has been decided to allow the ship to sink. The depth of the bow in the water, .which before the outbreak was shown as 12 feet, was by this time 24 feet. Later in the evening a fresh attempt was made to discharge cargo, and watersiders were set to work in clearing the deck cargo of hay from off No. 1 hatch. The hatch was then opened, and its cargo was found to be well afire, and sending up dense smoke. Further casualties among the firemen and watersiders were caused by. smoke. They were treated by the ambulance men.