 She was in company with the East Indiaman "Kent", with which she had left Torbay in convoy.During the night of 8–9 July a fire broke out on "Queen" while most of her officers and passengers were ashore.Lookouts on "Kent" appear to have noticed the smoke before the crew of "Queen" did, and "Kent" sent boats and fire-fighting equipment, but the currents were too strong for them to be of much use.