The Fort Stikine explosion of 1944 was caused by the combustion of cotton bales and explosives, including TNT, that the ship was carrying. Unfortunately, 2,000 tons of cotton were stored one level below the 1,500 tons of ammunition and high explosives. The inquiry after the incident speculated that a stevedore’s cigarette may have contributed to a fire in the hold, which firefighters were unable to control because of delays and miscommunication in asking for help. Eventually, the fire spread, leading to two main explosions approximately 30 minutes apart.
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