Firefighters battle blaze at Hong Kong construction site for more than 24 hours
Hong Kong Free Press
A fire that broke out on Tuesday at a Tin Shui Wai construction site has raged on for more than 24 hours, as firefighters continued battling the blaze on Wednesday evening.
Firefighters entered the site’s basement level on Wednesday morning. Accessing the site was considered too dangerous the day before when there was believed to be risk of two tower cranes on the site – measuring 60 and 70 metres – collapsing.
Fire Services Assistant Director Lee Koon-yau told reporters on Wednesday evening that the department had mobilised more than 581 firefighters and paramedics, as well as eight water jets, 167 fire trucks and 12 ambulances as of 5pm.
On Tuesday, the Fire Services Department said there had been explosions in the basement, likely caused by tanks of oxyacetylene, a type of fuel used for welding. Firefighters have secured 20 tanks, displaying no signs of explosive risk, Lee said.
Throughout the night, firefighters were only able to spray water from the edges of the worksite because of the extreme temperature in the basement and the safety risks posed by the two cranes, according to Lee.
“At this point in time, it’s hard to tell how long it will take to put out the fire,” he added. No casualties have been reported in the fire.
Firefighters also used drones to inspect the site and produce heat maps of the blaze, Lee said.
24-hour blaze
Firefighters got to the scene four minutes after receiving the report at around 1 pm on Tuesday. All 152 workers were evacuated from the site before firefighters arrived.
The worksite blaze was upgraded to a number 4 alarm on the five-point scale at around 9.30 pm.
At around 10am on Wednesday, firefighters entered the basement after Buildings Department officials determined that the cranes were not at immediate risk of collapsing. In a media stand-up, Buildings Department Mary Chan said on Wednesday the assessment was based on analyses of the cranes’ structural stability and the temperature of the site.
She also said that department officials will be stationed at the worksite to assist firefighters if necessary.
Lee on Wednesday evening likened the basement to a “maze” and said a detailed risk assessment was needed before determining when the fire will be put out.
The worksite is a rehousing estate at phase 2 of the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area operated by the Housing Society. The project, intended to provide 962 subsidised sale flats, was slated for completion in 2026.
As firefighters continued to battle the Hung Shui Kiu blaze on Wednesday, another fire broke out in a building in Jordan in the morning, leaving five dead and more than 30 injured. In a briefing to reporters at the scene, the Fire Services Department said the Hung Shui Kiu fire did not affect the response to the Jordan blaze response as they were handled by different divisions.
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