ABERDEEN PRESS AND JOURNAL, MONDAY 13TH AUGUST 1945
MILLIONS OF PEANUTS ABLAZE
Firemen had nothing to eat but peanuts when they fought an alarming outbreak of fire in the cargo ship Wairuna in the Gareloch, off Shandon, at the weekend.
Millions of peanuts in the hold of the vessel began to sizzle and roast as the fire, which broke out early on Saturday afternoon, gradually spread.
For hours firemen fought the fire, pumping tons of water into the forward hold.
An Army fire service unit was called in, but could not cope with the blaze, and a fire-fighting float was summoned from Greenock.
Early on Saturday night N.F.S. men and pumps from Garelochhead took over and another firefloat was called in from Glasgow.
The fire was got under control last night.
‘The firemen did heroic work, and they had very little to eat but hot, roasting, and wet peanuts’ stated an eye-witness.
DUNDEE COURIER, TUESDAY 14TH AUGUST 1945
THREE-DAY FIGHT WITH BURNING SHIP. FIREMEN’S ORDEAL AT THE GARELOCH.
For three days Scots firemen have been ceaselessly fighting the fire on the 9000-ton cargo ship Wairuna on the Gareloch.
Last night, while the ship was still blazing, it was decided to beach her at Helensburgh and have the millions of peanuts and palm kernels which comprise her cargo unloaded.
The hold has been battened down, sealing off the blaze from the rest of the ship, and welders were called in on Sunday to cut holes in the side of the Wairuna so that the firemen’s hoses could have easier access to the hold.
This, however, proved of little avail, and while the firemen carry on pumping tons of water in the forward hold the cargo will be unloaded, enabling the men to get inside and bring the flames under control.
The Wairuna is well down by the bows because of the inflow of water.
Shandon People and History 