FIRE IN SHIP’S HOLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21600, 22 March 1932, Page 16

FIRE IN SHIP’S HOLD

DRAMATIC DASH TO PORT CREW FIGHTS FLAMES. (From Oob Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, March 10. A 50-mile race back to port with her cargo blazing, desperate attempts to locate the seat of the .fire in a smokefilled hatch, and a two hour fight by the metropolitan ' brigades before the flames were extinguished—these were the features of the drama enacted on the steamer Time outside Sydney early on the morning of Saturday last. When smoke was seen issuing from the hold the vessel, which had left Sydney on Friday evening was well down the coast and Captain Parkes decided that the best thing to do was to race back to port. He realised the great risk he was running, but events showed that he was more than justified in following the bold policy he had mapped out. The ship’s officers, assisted by the crew, made courageous attempts to locate the lire, but owing to the heat and smoke they were unsuccesful. A more cautious skipper might have run the boat inshore and lost everything. As it was the damage was limited to £SOOO. When efforts to trace the fire had failed the ship’s pumps were brought into action. The hatch was battened down and all ventilation was cut off in the hope that the blaze would be stifled. A wireless message was sent to Sydney notifying the brigade of the vessel’s plight, and the stokers worked feverishly, forcing the freighter ahead at all possible speed. Thanks to their efforts the vessel re-entered the heads shortly after 2 a.m., and the firemen, with a fire fleet, were ready to attack the outbreak at once. It was the stillest proposition: the firemen had had in recent years, for the outbreak was deep seated, and the smoke coming from it was dense and suffocating. Two hours’ hard work were necessary before the flames were under control. By that time the fire fleet had pumped thousands of gallons of water into the burning hold, at the rate of 1500 gallons a minute. Threequarters of an hour after the commencement of operations the firemen, wearing respirators, were ready to enter the hold, and they were soon able to attack the fire at its seat. In the affected hold there were big quantities of waste paper, soap, bags pf empty bottles, match box cartons, empty kerosene cases, and valuable bales of cotton and flannelette. Between decks there was a large quantity of wool. Much of the cotton is now- being reconditioned, and the wool is intact, but seriously damaged by water. The members of the crew consider themselves fortunate that the fire did not occur at the other end of the ship, where there were drums of benzine and other inflammable matter, As'it was there was a constant fear of explosion owing to the confined space in which the fire was burning, and it is remarkable that the Time was able to reach port without suffering serious damage. ■ Captain Parkes was loud in his praise of the plucky efforts of Chief Officer Jones and Boatswain James Sutherland to locate the fire when, the ship was steaming down the coast. They donned smoke helmets and descended into the hold, while Captain Parkes himself held the life Tine. Willing hands attended to the air pumps. So dense was the smoke in. the hold and so great the heat, that the men found it impossible to remain below for more than a few minutes at a time. That being so-the search for the fire was in vain, and the greatest consternation followed the failure. Captain Parkes had faith in the ability of his ship to make port in time to avert a tragedy, and after sending wireless messages set out for Sydney. Wonderful work was done by the crew of the Time, and the men were almost exhausted when Sydney was reached. It was a great relief to them when the fire float pulled up alongside the vessel and the fire brigadesmen took charge.