No commander to oversee firefighters as flames blocked access, Tai Po probe hears
An independent committee hears that fire alarms were switched off for maintenance, a critical 'elementary mistake'.
An independent, judge-led committee is investigating the causes of the Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po, Hong Kong's deadliest blaze in decades, which claimed 168 lives. During the 11th day of hearings, the probe centered on critical human failures. A senior Fire Services Department official testified that the estate's fire alarm and hose reel systems were switched off to drain water tanks for maintenance—an act described as an 'elementary mistake.' Furthermore, authorities admitted they had never conducted a fire risk assessment at the residential building, having previously considered such sites lower risk than commercial properties.
The hearings also revealed severe operational challenges during the emergency. Four senior firefighters who served as commanders are set to testify, with previous sessions indicating firefighters faced an 'unprecedented situation' with flames blocking access and no commander on-site to oversee the response. The committee's lead counsel identified six 'human factors' that contributed to the tragedy, with oversight failures being a key theme. Authorities cited limited manpower for their reactive approach, typically only acting if fire systems were deactivated for over a year, prioritizing annual equipment inspections instead of proactive risk assessments.
- The fire alarm and hose reel systems at Wang Fuk Court were deactivated for maintenance before the blaze, a critical error called an 'elementary mistake.'
- Hong Kong fire authorities admitted they had never conducted a fire risk assessment at the residential estate, considering such buildings lower risk.
- Firefighters responded without an on-site commander as flames blocked access, facing what the committee chair called an 'unprecedented situation.'
Why It Matters
The probe exposes systemic failures in fire safety protocols and risk assessment, with critical lessons for building management and emergency response worldwide.