OUTBREAK AMONG CARGO.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 850, 23 June 1910, Page 7

OUTBREAK AMONG CARGO.

DESPERATE STRUGGLE WITH FLAMES.

FLOODING OPERATIONS.

FIREM OVERPOWERED BY FUMES.

(By'Telegraph.— Press Association.) * . ' Auckland, June 22. ' At an early hour this morning a fire was discovered in tho forward hold of the s.s. Indradevi, which arrived at Auckland on Tuesday, and was lying berthed at the end of the Queen Street Wharf. A considerable quantity of smoke was issuing from tho hold, in which was stowed a quantity of hardware goods. The first indication of fire was noticed about half-past oue, when a quartermaster saw smoke issuing from one of the ventilators. The . Auckland and Ponsonby fire' ' brigades quickly appeared, and the Harbour Board's fire float was ordered up. By the time the brigades arrived, it was quite evident that the fire had a very strong hold, and when the forward hatch was lifted dense volumes of smoke rolled up. It is possible that the fire bad been smouldering for days, in which case it is fortunate that the vessel reached port in time.

; Water Poured Into the. Hold. The brigades at once combined with the ship's crew, and water was poured into the hold. Hour after hour tho fight went on, but at dawn it" was found that the fire was increasing. The seat of the fire was very difficult of access. The outbreak evidently originated in the 'tween-decks hold, in theforward part of the vessel,, amongst a big cargo of case goods, including many, cases of spirits. All attempts to reach the actual seat of the fire were defeated by the dense smoke pouring. out,'and firemen who went into the close vicinity were overpowered by the fumes. At an early hour tho Harbour Board's fire-float was alongside tho Indradevi, and over 2000 gallons of water per minute were being poured into the forward hold, but tho streams of water could only be directed on conjecture, for no ono,knew where the fire really was. *

Tho, paint began to peel off the vessel's starboard sido; and'the deck became hot, while the smoke volume increased, showing that the fire was still advancing. Flames Reach tho Forecastle. Before 9 o'clock the flames reached the forecastle, and very soon the seamen's quarters wero practically gutted before the fresh outbreak could bo suppressed. ■ ■'■■•• - ; ■'■••' "

The firemen fought tho .flames bravely. A number assumed smokejackets and endeavoured to explore the holds near the outbreak, but they wero unsuccessful. Six were overcome by the smoke, and four of them were insensible when brought up on dock again. Artificial respiration had to bo applied to bring ono man round again.

At noon it could be seen that despite the strenuous labour of the fire brigades and the crew, no progress against the fire was being made, and the fear gained ground that the flames would break through to the main store • of spirits, which comprised most of tho 'tween, deck cargo. Tho vessel was then drawing 27 feet of water, and had 17 feet of water in her hold, and the position became one of great danger, the fear being that the weight of water pumped into the forehold would break through the bulkheads and flood the other holds. Chemical Action. In the afternoon the hatches were put on, and an effort made to smother the fire by chemical action, but this eventually failed, the explanation given being that there were too many vents to allow the chemicals to operate perly.At three o'clock it was decided that the only chance of extinguishing the fire was to flood the forward part of the ship. Men were engaged to strengthen the bulkheads to prevent them bursting, and the fire brigades and the firefloat commenced again to pour water at the rate of 2000 gallons per minute into the burning hold. Tho "flooding" operations were proceeding this evening. The Damage. Knormous damago has, of course, been caused. The extent can only/bo learned when the fire is eventually got under. The refrigerating plant will suffer badly, and it is estimated that the damago to the plant alone will reach £2000. The Auckland cargo, totalling 1400 tons, had been practically discharged, but the vessel st'ill has on board 2000 tons for Wellington, 1500 tons for Christchurch, and 1500 tons for Dunedin. ' ,

No cause can be assigned at present for the outbreak, but it is thought by some that the insulation may have been defective".

The Indradevi's cargo is about 7000 tons. In the hold on fire are 460 tons, mostly hardware.