I'm a Capt on 744 Freighters.
I always brief if we get ANY fire (engine/cabin/cargo) we WILL turn at 500ft to head downwind* for a return - Thats is againts our company SOP's to follow the SID and do the QRH/Checklist ... BUT I want to LIVE!!!
*OR do a teardrop land witn a tailwind
I also fear the casual nature in which Hazmatt is loaded, their just isnt the time to check every pallet in detail before departure. We put our faith in the shipping agents and handling agents that its packaged and loaded correctly, and is what it says on the paperwork.
I also fear we havent got a main deck fire suppression system on the 744F.
The QRH has us depressurize and suffocate the fire - yeah, right, when its a dodgy chemical spontously combusting ... and we are 600 miles from the nearest bit of tarmac ... get real Mr Boeing .. and the certfiication authorities.
I hope lessons are learnt from it and procedures changed in 'freighter world'....