SUDDEN BLAZE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 December 1940, Page 5

SUDDEN BLAZE

IN STRANDED AUSTRALIAN SHIP LARGE QUANTITIES OF OIL ABOARD. THEORY OF SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. The inter-State liner Orungal, which grounded near Port Philip Heads on November 21, caught fire early yesterday and has almost completely burned out. Much of the vessel's cargo had been lightered and an attempt was to have been made this weekend to refloat her. Discovered at 2.30 a.m., the fire swept quickly through the ship, gaining a strong hold in large quantities of crude oil aboard. Of sixty of the salvage crew aboard, only two suffered slight injuries. Both were trapped in the engine-room while fire-fighting. It is believed that the fire was caused by spontaneous combustion. The fire broke out in the boiler room and was quickly out of hand. The crew acted with great courage when, at much risk, they rolled overboard large drums of oil. Preparations for refloating had been carried on in a race against time during the week to lighten the vessel sufficiently to allow of an attempt to tow her off on the spring tides at the weekend. The engine-room had been pumped out and steam raised to assist in the discharge of cargo. It was believed that hopes of salvage were good, but doubts now exist as to whether any attempt will be made. The fire was still burning late yesterday afternoon.