FIRE ON WAHINE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 April 1939, Page 3

FIRE ON WAHINE

OUTBREAK CAUSES LITTLE' DAMAGE. , WELLINGTON, April 25. A fire, which fortunately was not attended by any serious , consequences, and which was extinguished with remarkable promptitude, occurred this evening in the after stokehold oi the inter-island express steamer Wall ine' at about 6.30 p.m. One of the firemen on watch was lighting up the oil burners of one of the ship’s six water-tube boilers when a blow-out occurred. The man’' torch ignited the spray of oil which was being pumped under pressure, and the ensuing flare was drawn up the air-shaft .into the fan room immediately above the stokehold. The instant alarm which was given demonstrated greatly the value ot the weekly fire drill carried out in all the Union Line passenger ships. Asa precautionary measure the city fire brigade was summoned, and responded very quickly. By the time the brigade engine reached the ship, howevei, the danger was past, and the outbreak practically extinguished. Beyond charring the paint-work and some electric light and other fittings in the stokehold and the fan room, very little damage was done. The departure of the Wahine was delayed for half an hour while electric lighting Wiring was replaced temporarily, and some cleaning up was done. The ship departed at 8.15 p.nr. for Lyttelton.