I remember that. In those days the Neptune was not fitted with engine fire exxtinguishers. A Meteor pilot (Bill Monaghan I think) saw the flames streaming back over the wing and tail and urged the Neptune to get back on the deck quick. The wing folded and that was that. It was one of those awful decisions of should the pilot try and reach the airfield before a wing might fold or do you force land it into nearest flat surface while you have control. The Ansett Winton Viscount crash was similar except it was at night when the fire took hold from a faulty air conditioning compressor I recall. The wing went while the pilot Ken May was trying to get to Winton airfield.
One reason why if you get a cabin or electrical fire at high altitude cruise it might pay to get the aircraft into an immediate emergency descent while fire fighting is taking place, rather than leave the decision to descend until too late.