FIRE ON LINER

Hokitika Guardian, 29 January 1932, Page 5

FIRE ON LINER

WOOL CARGO DAMAGED

DISCHARGED ON ARRIVAL.

(By Telegraph —Ter Tress Association)

WELLINGTON, January 29

Fire broke out last night in the wool cargo on the Common wealth and Dominion Line’s motor' .skiip, Port Fremantle, at King’s Wharf. Indications i), tioubje were observed shortly before the ship left the Wanganui roadstead early yesterday afternoon, and the heal and smoke coming from thy Jio.(| as she neared Wellington, caused the master to radio a request that ilie vessel bo berthed immediately on her arrival to enable a start to be made at once to discharge the cargo.

Tne vessel arrived in port shortly before ten o’clock, and the Harbourmaster at once berthed her. Watersidcr.s, with the assistance of two wharf cranes, started to discharge the wool which almost completely filled tile No. 5 hold. The heat became more intense as tbe unloading continued, and after some two hundred bales bad been discharged, the men bad to quit the hold. Smoke now - came away in great volumes, and very soon, due to free circulation of air in the hatchway, it actually broke out shortly before midnight, Hoses had been in readiness since her arrival, and the brigade was summoned. The flames had been checked by the time the hitter arrived, but firemen donned smoke helmets an c j entered the hold in an endeavour to ascertain the actual seat of the outbreak, and water was still being poured on. In the early hours of this morning, the work of discharging the wool was resumed, and -'it was noticed that packs of many bales had been charred. The Port Fremantle recently loaded at Nelson, New Plymouth, and Wanganui, the cargo shipped including frozen meat, tallow, about 19,500 boxes of butter, 9760 crates of cheese, as well as a large quantity of wool shipped from Napier and Wanganui. The cause of the fire is believed to be spontaneous combustion which lias been responsible for many similar outbreaks on various ships. SMOKE STILL ISSUING. WELLINGTON, January 29. Smoke was still issuing from the Port Fremantle this morning in fair volumes, but the fire appears definitely under control. The ship lias a considerable list to starboard, towards tho wharf.

Several holes have been cut in tbe side to allow the water to escape; also Poles in the deck to admit water for the firemen, who are working below in smoke helmets.