Fire at sea

Hi Graham.
It was a Sunday morning. Just out of Nagasaki. I was on the sundeck and noticed smoke coming out of No4 extractors. I rang the bridge and asked for the OOW. He told me they knew. There was a fire down no4. But they were not aware that smoke was coming out that meant something had not been shut down. They had steamed the hold but to no resolution and the fire crew were being assembled. I was to wander round decks and do what I did best. Talk to the passengers have a smoke etc. (cheeky bugger) I was told some boats will be lowered but not involve passengers. I was to stay on the decks and not go to boat stations, there would be no signal. The old man was about to make an announcement.
And so it was that later I wandered down to the tavern bar to have a smoke and chat. As you are aware the No 4 hatch cover was also the place that the outdoor furniture for the tavern bar was set up. An American lady was sitting there having her “tonic” and asked me what was going on. I informed her that there was a small fire problem in No 4 hold and it was being put out by the fire fighters and the life boats were down as an exercise. Oh! She said where is No 4 hatch. I said your actually sitting on it. Woosh! She was gone. A couple of seconds later she came back gave a smile and picked up her drink and went round the port side on A deck.
The boys doing the fire fighting came out for a rotation breather onto c deck as they swapped round. There were some young women there who asked some of the guys who came out about the fire. The guys were coughing a lot and a bit red in the face, soaking wet and had smoke clinging to them, just like cigarette smoke seems to cling to the thumb of a smoker who puts his thumb over the filter tip of the lit cigarette. The guys answered all is OK, but do you have cigarettes and a light. We need a smoke!
We managed to keep the fire going to HK and the HK fire brigade took over. The HK firies dwho were keeping the bulkhead between 4 and 5 hatched watered discovered that there were cases of beer down there. The HK chief complained he had to change some of his guys as they were a bit happy. When 4 was flooded and water rose in no5 so did many empty cans.
I have a few photos of no 4 being opened and debris being removed with Ginger Gaffney the Chief Officer in a boiler suit directing operations. I also remember the palettes of junk making a stop as the went over and the boys grabbing barrel wirelesses. Which failed to work when fitted with batteries.
I also remember drinking boiled Carlsberg, it was cheaper than the stock that was not fire effected. A bit cloudy but worked just like a real one. If I wanted a clear one I just went to the Veranda bar pantry.

Fire at sea, one of the more distressing events.
Many ashore would say,' all that water you must be able to put it out.'


What they fail to understand is that if all power is gone then no pumps, have as much water as you like it will not matter.

Then there is the issue of different types, fuel, electrical etc.
All require different methods of extinquishing.

water is fine on the outside , it doesn't affect the stability out there