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NATIONAL FIRE SERVICE DAY - 14 TH APRIL Our Nation observes 14 th April as the “Fire Service Day”. This day is also observed as “MARTYRS DAY” to pay homage to those brave fire fighters who sacrificed their lives in the massive fire and explosion at Bombay dockyard on 14 th April 1944.

National fire service day 14 th april

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NATIONAL FIRE SERVICE DAY - 14TH APRIL

Our Nation observes 14th April as the “Fire Service Day”.

This day is also observed as “MARTYRS DAY” to pay homage to

those brave fire fighters who sacrificed their lives in the massive fire

and explosion at Bombay dockyard on 14th April 1944.

BOMBAY DOCK 14th April - FIRE

CASE STUDY

14th APRIL 1944

DATE : 14TH APRIL 1944

LOCATION : VICTORIA DOCK

SHIP : S S FORT STIKINE

CAPACITY : 7000 TONS

CARGO : AMMUNITION

BELONGED : BRITISH MINISTRY OF

WAR AND TRANSPORT

S.S.FORT STIKINE

HISTORY

Ship left Birkinhead-UK : 24th Feb’1944

Convey of 20 other ships with cargo for

Karachi and Bombay.

Karachi cargo – RAF Planes, general stores,

Explosives and ammunitions.

Bombay Cargo – 1395 tons of explosives and

ammunitions and service stores.

Reached Karachi - 30th March, where a part

of cargo was discharged, leaving void of

2,86,000 cu.ft in her hold.

New Cargo – Cotton, Timber, Lubricating

oil, Resin, Sulphur and other combustible.

LEFT KARACHI : 9th APRIL

Reached BOMBAY : 12th APRIL.

No explosives or ammunition were off

loaded until the Ship had been

alongside for 24 hrs.

BY LAWS OF B.P.T

A ship carrying explosives is not allowed into the Docks, but under rule 88 of the Defence of India Rules this by-law is suspended in cases where Military Officer has given a certificate of “Grave Urgency”.

Such a certificate WAS GIVEN in case of Fort Stikine.

The Memorable Day

Throughout the morning she was active as

cargo hooks swayed a load of commodities

from the “Fort Stikine”

Firemen at the fire stations as usual were

shining their brass to keep their Fire Engines

shining.

2:00 pm – a wisp of smoke noticed from the No 2 hold of the ship.

Frantic series of short blast of whistles warning of Fire aboard.

The ship crew started pouring musky water in the ship hold.

Fire engines from Alexander Dock and AF squad promptly arrived, and started hose streams in the smoking hold.

The Firemen though aware of the dangerous

situation , there was no panic.

The prompt arrival of the Fire Engines then

seemed no reason to think that the fire could

not be controlled.

Soon it became apparent that the firemen

were “losing ground”.

A call was put through to the Fire Brigade

control for additional appliances

2:30 pm – large part of Fire Services were on plier.

Total 32 jets in action, pouring gallons of water into the ship hold.

The fire still gained.

There was something preventing the water from reaching the seat of fire.

The Deck Head under the Firemen’s feet grew hotter

The water stream played over the deck head

turned to Steam.

It was now clear that the fire was out of

control.

Sides and Deck became Cherry Red,

blenching thick black and brown smoke.

Flames shot mast high.

Orders to abandon ship.

But sound never reached Firemen's ear.

4:05- Ground rumbled and EXPLOSION, Fort

Stikine blew up.

With it went Gallant Firemen and Fire engine

disappeared from the face of Earth.

No. of ships destroyed, which were moored

nearby.

At one stroke the key port of Bombay was taken

out of war.

4:36 – SECOND EXPLOSION-product of

No.4&5 hold cast upwards to height of 3000 ft.

Result : ??????

RESULT OF EXPLOSION

ENTIRE DOCK UPTO FEW KMS. WERE IN FLAME.

FRACTURE OF THE 24” WATER MAIN BY A METAL PIECE AT LEAST 20 FEET LONG, COMPLETELY BLOCKING FRERE ROAD BY FIRE DEBRIS, AND DISLODGED TRAM WIRES

DESTRUCTION OF 14 OTHER SHIPS.

336 PERSONS BURNED

66 FIREMEN DEAD

ALL AROUND PEOPLE AND ANIMAL LYING DEAD.

MANY FIREFIGHTERS DISABLED

View of Harbour after first Explosion

Workers fleeing the scene after the second explosion

CASUALTIES

The number of persons who died in the

explosion will never be known and figures

are conflicting

NFPA Hand book- Listed 731 dead.

Other Sources- 1500 dead/missing, over

3000 injured.

CLAIM

Couple of months after disaster 3083 people

had requested claims for damage by fire or

blasts and to the property.

11,735 had put up claim for uninsured

properties.

466 uninsured people had claimed as

compensation for personal injuries.

COMPENSATION PAID

Govt. paid out 850 lakhs as damage by fire

and blast.

Marine insurance- Rs.150 lakhs.

Paid for uninsured properties – 300 lakhs.

Personal injuries – 13 lakhs.

Miscellaneous policy – 4.5 lakhs

Words of Lt.Edward F.Oliver, US Coast Guard, US Naval Institute

“Few have ever heard of the greatest dynamite gun powder explosion of World War II – a blow to the allied war machine beyond the wildest dreams of a potential saboteur. The explosion nearly wiped out “Gateway of India” and destroyed or damaged nearly 1,00,000 tons of allied shipping. The cost of the disaster has been put at more than a billion dollars. In terms of human lives, the figure is more difficult to arrive at. Official figures listed only those who passed through the hospitals and aid station. It was estimated that there were 1500 dead and missing and injured. How many simply disappeared will never be known”

KILLED INJURED

Bombay Auxiliary Fire Services 42 85

Bombay Fire Brigade 24

Bombay Salvage Corps 12 02

Bombay Port Trust Employees 84 Not Known

City Police 14 55

Ship Crews 41 123

Army 15 30

Air Force - 15

Navy 07 160

Crew of Country Craft 04 10

Warehouse with Railroad Cars.

Railroad Cars

1944 Bombay harbour explosion propeller piece

Mumbai Fire fighters Memorial

In 1968, late though the Govt. of India designated

April 14th as FIRE SERVICE DAY

in recognition of the valor & sacrifice of the firemen who lost their lives in the explosion and those who laid down their lives

“IN LINE OF DUTY”

Let us all Indians pay homage to all those

brave firefighters by observing

02 min silence

THANK YOU

JAI HIND

Nalin Chaudhary (9978411037)