FIRE ABOARD STEAMER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22403, 27 April 1936, Page 12

FIRE ABOARD STEAMER

THE CANADIAN HIGHLANDER OUTBREAK AT HALIFAX An outbreak of fire at Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the steamer Canadian Highlander, which arrived at Auckland oij Friday afternoon, delayed the vessel's departure for New Zealand by about three weeks. After the fire repairs costing over £2OOO had to be carried out on board before she could load her present cargo. The fire occurred when the Canadian Highlander was in dock undergoing her periodical overhaul and survey. When the workmen returned to tlio vessel after lunch on the day bofore sho was to be undocked they discovered that sho was on fire in the bilges under the engine-room and stokehold. Before the flames could bo subdued and smothered steel plates were split and buckled by the heat and the engine-joom was badly damaged. Heat and flames blistered the paint up the ventilators to the height of the bridge and the ceiling in No. 2 hold was ignited. The steamer is an oil burner and her tanks were full of oil fuel. It was feared that the flames would reach the tanks before the fire could bo got under control and strenuous efforts were made to keep the outbreak from spreading. The fire originated under the boilerroom and was fed by the waste oil that had accumulated in the bilges. Dense clouds of black smoke issuing from the holds made the task of the fire brigades very difficult. Eventually the fire was subdued by means of large streams of foamite, which is most effective in smothering burning oil. . The Canadian Highlander is a steamer of 5370 tons and she was built at North Vancouver in 1920. The vessel was scheduled to leave Halifax on February 28, but, owing to the fire delaying loading, she did not sail until April 18. The general merchandise cargo on board will bo unloaded at Auckland, Wellington and Australian ports.