SHIP ON FIRE

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21366, 10 March 1941, Page 6

SHIP ON FIRE

CARGO DAMAGED FIREMEN’S DIFFICULTIES WELLINGTON, Sunday A fire which was discovered early this morning in a vessel berthed at Wellington caused serious damage to the cargo. The outbreak was suppressed within three hours and comparatively little damage was done to the ship. The cause is believed to have been sparks from welding that was being done on Friday night immediately above the fan room, which houses a fan for circulating air throughout the cargo. Detectives have been making investigations. When the brigade arrived at 2.44 a.m. cork insulation and wood was on fire. Unsuccessful attempts were made to smother the flames with gas the firemen were hampered by the smallness of the opening into the fan room from the deck above. Holes Cut in Deck Hatches were opened and the dense smoke which issued from them showed that the fire had worked into the cargo packed round the room. The fire was then attacked from both sides with several hoses delivering salt and fresh water. To enable more deliveries of water to be brought to bear holes were cut in the deck plating with acetone torches. The unloading of cargo was begun to-day, but the extent of the damage will not be known until the work is completed to-morrow afternoon. More damage was done to the cargo by the water used to extinguish the fire than by the fire itself. Damage to the vessel consists of the burning out of the fan room and the buckling of the deck plating.