“Too big and too difficult”: fire officers defend response as Tai Po Fire hearing continues

Senior firefighters testified Monday at the Tai Po Fire public hearing, describing how the rapid spread of the blaze and the absence of working building alarms created major challenges in coordinating rescues during the inferno that killed 168 people. 

Senior Station Officer Hui Kin-on, the first commander on the scene from Tai Po Fire Station’s B Team, told the committee he arrived at 2:56 p.m., just five minutes after the initial call reported scaffolding fire and explosions at Wang Cheong House.  

He said the flames spread “extremely fast", shooting straight to the roof with loud explosions and collapsing bamboo scaffolding.  

“When we arrived at the scene, we did not see any property management staff, nor did we hear the fire alarm bells ringing,” Hui said. 

The public's reliability of on-site firefighting information systems has also been concerned. Hui said it is a common practice to install the mobile data terminal on every fire engine, which displays real-time incident details, including specific building information.  

“During this fire, however, I cannot recall whether the terminal indicated exactly which fire safety installations had failed,” Hui said. “In every other incident I have attended, the terminal would always specify the faulty equipment.” 

Hui said when he arrived on spot, he saw all exits were blocked by falling debris and bamboos, which prevented firefighters from entering to activate the internal alarm system.  

“The entire building was surrounded by thick smoke and fire,” he recalled. 

The team attempted to activate the fire alarm bells in nearby buildings but none of them were functioning properly, Hui added.  

Hui also said firefighters had to rely on police assistance for evacuation and on radio communications with the control centre, while the committee counsel noted that there was no specific guidance for the estate’s pre-arranged fire plan for situations where the alarm failed to activate. 

As fire alarm upgraded to fourth level in an hour, the Fire Services Department was in effort to arrange more manpower. Wong King-man, Deputy Director of Fire Services in New Territories North, said the command centre received over 300 help requests but only 83 were resolved by 9:30 p.m. 

“The initial fire was too big and too difficult,” Wong said. “Even additional firefighters would have made little difference at the outset.” 

Hui and Cheung Lok-hang, the station commander of Tai Po Fire Station, both rejected residents’ claims of insufficient water pressure, saying they observed steady supply from intake to discharge.  

However, Miss Ho, a resident of Wang Fuk Court, hopes the government should release more information. 

“The government has never let us see the building inspection report, but this document is actually very important,” she said. 

This marks the 11th public hearing held by the independent committee since Mar. 19. It is the second time the Fire Department has provided testimony with this hearing focusing on the Fire Services Department’s on-site decision-making during the incident.