i
APPENDIX J
REPORT
OF THE
CHIEF OFFICER,
HONG KONG FIRE BRIGADE,
FOR THE
PERIOD 1ST MAY, 1946 TO 31ST MARCH, 1947.
#2150452
APPENDIX J
REPORT
OF THE
CHIEF OFFICER.
HONG KONG FIRE BRIGADE,
FOR THE
PERIOD 1ST MAY, 1946 TO 31ST MARCH, 1947.
Expenditure and Revenue.
The expenditure of the Brigade for the period under review was $377,798.00.
Revenue totalled $929.00 derived from fees charged for the attendance of firemen and equipment at matshed theatres and other special duties.
Calls.
The Brigade attended 307 calls. Of these 258 were to actual fires, 38 for special services including house collapses, 9 were false alarms with good intent. There were 2 malicious false alarms.
Serious Fire.
The most serious fire of the period occurred on board the S.S. "Sai On" on the 4th February, 1947 when 132 lives were lost. Fire Brigade personnel rescued 25 persons from the burning ship and the harbour. In the course of rescue operations several members of the Brigade received burns necessitating hospital treatment.
Casualties.
The total number of civilian fatalities from fires and explosions was 150. In addition 18 persons were killed by the collapse of buildings. 101 buried and injured persons were rescued alive from the debris by Firemen. There were
no Fire Briade fatalities.
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Staff.
Due to the retirement of Mr. J. C. Fitz Henry on medical grounds, Mr. W. McI. Smith, Grad. I. Fire E. was promoted Chief Officer on 1st May, 1946.
Station Officer C. W. Brand, Grad. I. Fire E. was appointed Deputy Chief Officer with effect from 5th Decem- ber, 1946.
Strike.
Following the presentation to Government of demands for improved conditions of service, 179 members of the Brigade went on strike on the 12th July, 1946. The strike ended on 22nd July, 1946, when Government's terms were accepted and all ranks resumed duty. Included in the amended conditions of service was the introduction of the 24 hour on-off system of duty in place of the 3 day on with one day off system. To render the new condition operative, the staff was increased by 92, from 312 to 404 all ranks.
During the period of the strike Fire Stations were manned by service personnel.
Commendations.
Divisional Officer K. H. J. Brooks, Station Officer C. W. Browne, Fireman Tsoi Chiu and Seaman Li Chee were recipients of letters of commendation from His Excellency the Governor, Sir Mark Young, for their bravery and initiative on the occasion of the "Sai On" Fire when they jointly were responsible for the rescue of 22 persons.
Long service medals were awarded to 23 members of the staff who have completed 18 years or more service with the Brigade.
Fire Engines.
The Brigade has been able to effect the return to the Colony of the two modern, 1250 gallons per minute, fire engines which were removed to Tokyo on 26th April, 1943, by the Japanese and installed in the Imperial Palace. Follow- ing mechanical repairs necessitated by inefficient maintenance the engines were again placed in commission locally.
All of our fire engines suffered in varying degrees by neglect during the period of occupation. With one exception they have been overhauled and repaired and are now in serviceable condition. The exception requires major engine parts from the United Kingdom. These are expected to
arrive soon.
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Five fire engines, obsolete in 1941 but retained in service in connection with war emergency measures, have been disposed of by sale.
Fire Stations.
All city and urban stations are fully manned and equipped. To ensure greater fire protection for the more remote areas, additional engines have been installed at Tai O and Cheung Chau Stations. Arrangements are in hand for the opening of additional stations at Sheung Shui and Sai Kung.
Fire Floats.
Sunk by bombs and refloated on two occasions during hostilities, No. 1 Fire Float suffered considerable damage to engines, boilers and hull. A Board of Survey recommended that the vessel was beyond economical repair and it was accordingly disposed of. A "Tanac" launch equipped with fire pump, deck monitor and deliveries was commissioned in place of the float.
No. 2 Fire Float fared better during the war but extensive repairs to engine and hull were necessary. These have been carried out and the float is now in sound condition.
Fire Hydrants.
Extensive repairs to street fire hydrants have been carried out by the Water Department. Many pedestal hydrants rendered useless by the removal of valves and other brass components have been made serviceable. Altogether 260 hydrants of this type have been repaired or replaced. All hydrants have been periodically inspected and tested. The policy of replacing ground hydrants by the pedestal type where practicable is being continued.
Fire Alarms.
An order has been placed through Crown Agents for the Colonies, for the supply of a 100 point A.T.M. public fire alarm system to replace the system destroyed during hostilities. It is anticipated that delivery of the alarms will be made and their installation commenced before the end of 1947.
Fire Prevetion.
The Fire Brigade has been very active in matters relating to fire prevention and a total of 3217 inspections of premises has been made during the period of this report. Prosecutions
(4)
were undertaken in 121 instances of illegal storage of danger- ous goods and fines amounting to $10,760.00 were imposed on offenders.
Fire Hydrant Installations.
Fire service installations in Government Buildings have been thoroughly overhauled and all equipment restored to pre-war standard. Installations in private buildings are, following inspections and advice by the Fire Brigade, being restored as materials come to hand.
Ambulance Service.
Following the requisition of 7 Army type Ford ambu- lances, an emergency and accident ambulance service was put into operation on 1st June, 1946. Since that date 3775 patients have been conveyed to hospitals and the ambulances have covered a total of 27251 miles.
I append hereto :-
I. Monthly Summary of Inspections.
II. Summary of Serious Fires.
III.
Monthly Summary of Ambulance Calls.
IV. Summary of Stations and Plant.
V. Summary of Estimated Loss by Fire.
a podepsandles t
Sd. W. M..SMITH,
C. O., F. B.
10. 6. 47.
'46
#
APPENDIX I.
Summary of Inspections.
TOTAL
Garages
Theatres & Cinemas, Boarding Houses
Factories & Workshops
Licensed Premises
1
1
11
4
CONI
2
1
6 |
12 | 28 |
17
61
75
3
8
7
5
36 1
10
23
13
120
10
9
31 11
5
13
6
10
61
3 1
1
77
52
68
14
81
153
76
67
15
25 |
33
32
616
2
21 3
1.
I
1
9
Eating Houses & Restaurants.
6 |
35
17 36
47
35 |
15 |
8
17❘
11 !
9
236
Timber Yards & Storages.
25
48
56
45
17 |
66 |
33 |
3 1
21
4
6
324
Buildings
1
1
1
3 1
1 |
2
9
High & Low Flash Intiammable Liquids
1
10
24
15 |
30
27
26
23
11
11
186
Petrol Pumps
15 |
1
5 1
1
1 !
1
16
3 |
5 1 4
52
Kerosene Stores in Shops.
24 |
56
49
64 I
90 | 122 |
49 |
56 1
42 | 193 |
745
Dangerous Goods in General
18
13 |
21 |
14
4
47
35
18 |
2 |
93 | 8
273
Offensive Trades
7
3
7
9
9
4
2
2
3
1
2
49
Fireworks Storages
8
26
100
8
7
25
541
128
Neon Light Advertising Signs.
5 1
47
53
Vernacular Schools
2 |
3
5
15
18
24 |
72
Dancing Halls & Academies.
1
2
2
2
2 |
11
2 |
1 |
24
Fire Service Installations
11
5
15
1 |
21
10 |
12 |
40
15 |
111
Miscellaneous
8 | 4
31 1
9
8
31 4 |
21
14 |
21
58
TOTAL..
155 241
226
282
354
380
355 | 230
219
346
429
3217
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APPENDIX II.
Summary of most serious fires for the period 1st May, 1946 to 31st March, 1947.
PLACE
FIRE EXTINGUISHED BY.
DATE.
TIME OF CALL (hours)
Hydrants.
11th May, 1946
12.44
Admiralty House,
Conduit Road.
12th August, 1946
08.53
A.P.C. Installation,
Tai Kok Tsui.
2
คง
28th August, 1946
12 00
Royal Air Force
Garage,
2
Garden Road.
6th November, 1946
10.14
78, Un Chau St.,
2
Sham Shui Po.
Pumps.
2
Fire Floats.
2 and 2 foam
units.
Ε
2 and 2 foam
units.
4th February, 1947
04.58
S.S. "SAI ON" lying
alongside
2
3
Tung On Wharf.
2
REMARKS.
A building of two floors covering an area of about 100 feet X 60 feet, and contents severely damaged by fire and roof off.
A steel and corrugated iron shed about 100 feet X 80 feet and 5,000 gallons of petrol destroyed by fire.
A wooden shed building about 100 feet X 40 feet and contents consisting of motor spares, tyres, etc. destroyed by fire.
A R.C.C. building of 3 floors used as knitting factory and dwelling. Second floor and contents severely damaged by fire following a petrol explosion which instantly killed 11 persons.
A river steamer of 1950 tons gross. Two upper decks severely damaged by fire and cargo in lower deck damaged by fire and water. 132 per- sons trapped aft of lower deck perished. 25 persons rescued from ship and har- bour and removed to hospital by Fire Brigade Ambulances,
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APPENDIX III.
Summary of Ambulance Calls.
LIBRARY
No. of
Month.
No. of
calls.
Miles run.
patients.
June,
1946
8
9
50
July,
306
330
2196
August,
475
455
3744
September,
396
389
2995
**
October,
429
462
3142
November,
666
764
4970
I
December,
393
424
3334
January,
1947
356
394
2611
February,
259
273
2106
March,
262
275
2103
3550
3775
27251
APPENDIX IV.
Stations and Plant at 31st March, 1947.
PLANT
STATION.
Motor Pumps.
Motor Escapes (with Pumps)
Turntable Ladders.
Emergency Tenders
Trailer Pumps
Fire Floats Ambulances.
HONG KONG:
Central
2
1
Eastern
1
1
Western
1
Shaukiwan
Aberdeen
Aplichau
King Shan Wharf..
KOWLOON:-
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
ลง
2
I
J
2
ลง
Kowloon
Terminus
Un Long
Tai Po
Cheung Chau Island..
Tai O
Total:
6
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
ลง
2
2
2
2
14
2
7
1
1
( 8 )
(9)
APPENDIX V.
Summary of Estimated loss monetary by fire.
(Figures in brackets indicate number of fires)
MONTH.
UNDER $500
NOT EXCEEDING
EXCEEDING $5,000
TOTAL
$2,000
$5,000
1946
$
$
$
$
May.
435 (15)
1,000 (1)
4,000 (1)
56,000 (2)
$ 61,435 (19)
June.
325 (12)
1,400 (1)
3,000 (1)
Nil.
4,725 (14)
July.
510 (14)
1,600 (2)
Nil.
9,600 (1)
11,710(17)
August.
183 ( 6 )
2,200 (2)
5,000 (1)
130,000 (4)
137,383 (15)
Sept.
219(16)
2,000 (1)
3,000 (1)
31,000 (2)
36,219(20)
Oct.
417 (10)
600 (1)
Nil.
Nil.
1,017 (11)
Nov.
980 (22)
4,500 (3)
4,000 (1)
80,000 (2)
89,480 (28)
Dec.
2,089 (43)
5,000 (3)
3,000 (1)
150,000 (1)
160,089 (48)
1947
Jan.
310 (20)
2,000 (1)
Nil.
40,000 (1)
42,310(22)
Feb.
1,152 (24)
1,200 (1)
Nil.
1,599,800 (4)
1,602,152 (29)
March.
1,152 (31)
800 (1)
Nil.
70,300 (3)
72,252 (35)
TOTAL
7,772 (215)| 22,300 (17) || 22,000 (6) 2,166,700 (20)
2.218,772 (258)