Even as the devastating fire in Tai Po raged into the night, theories swirled around the possible causes of one of Hong Kong’s deadliest blazes in recent decades, with experts and residents suggesting that a combination of factors may have been involved.
Authorities vowed to investigate the cause of the deadly No 5 fire, classified as posing the highest threat level, which claimed at least 36 lives, including a firefighter, and left 29 hospitalised. Another 279 others remain missing.
Suspicion immediately fell on the fire resistance level of the scaffolding, the rapid spread of burning debris carried by the wind, and alleged irresponsible smoking by workers involved in the extensive renovations of the housing estate in Tai Po, which comprises eight 31-storey blocks.
The inferno, which began in one of the blocks in midafternoon on Wednesday and spread to seven of the eight towers of Wang Fuk Court within a few hours, was still raging in the evening.
Scaffolding and netting had covered all of the blocks, which have been under massive renovations since July last year.
Gary Au Gar-hoe, spokesman for the fire division of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, explained to the Post that bamboo scaffolding could still catch fire even with a layer of fire retardant applied to its netting, while radiant heat from the inferno could cause neighbouring buildings to ignite as well.
“If large swathes of flames had landed on a building opposite, while combustible materials like newspaper, wood and paint were nearby, it would cause the level of fire seen today,” Au said.
The engineer agreed that the scale of the fire pointed to potential deficiencies in one or more areas, including the fire safety materials used in the scaffolding, fire safety management during the building works, and awareness among workers.
The fire, which started shortly before 3pm, rose to a No 4 alarm by 3.34pm before it was elevated into the top-level No. 5 alarm at 6.22pm.
Engineer Au explained that the inferno reportedly began at the scaffolding on the lower levels of one of the buildings before spreading upwards to higher levels and into residential units inside.
“Besides the scaffolding, there was also debris inside like newspapers and other flammable items. Once these items burn, the entire blaze would strengthen,” Au said.
“When the blaze burns upwards and lights up the netting, the fire would burn into the residential units.”
While Au said the Building Department’s guidelines mandate the application of a fire retardant layer on netting at bamboo scaffolding – a chemical that could slow the spread of fire on surfaces – the netting could still be ignited.
He added that while the chemical coating carbonises into a black, charred layer when burned, eventually putting out the flames on its surface, it could still be consumed if the fire was strong enough.
“The scaffolding is flame retardant, but not non-combustible,” Au said.
The engineer noted that the wind on Wednesday also facilitated the blaze, as the breeze blew flaming debris onto neighbouring buildings.
Images and footage from the scene showed flaming debris falling to the ground from the upper levels of the burning residential buildings, with some of these burning objects blown onto the bamboo scaffolding of neighbouring blocks of Wang Fuk Court.
While the cause of the blaze remains uncertain, several residents told the Post they had seen renovation workers smoking at the site.
Kenny Tam, a 45-year-old retail worker, said the external wall renovations had been ongoing for about a year, with some residents complaining about the quality of the work.
“Some said they also found workers smoking. Such complaints have been going on for half a year,” he said.
Kwong Pui-lun, former chairman of Wang Fuk Court’s Owners’ Corporation and resident of Wang Tao House in the estate, reported similar problems.
“I always see construction workers smoking, and they litter cigarette butts everywhere,” Kwong said, expressing worry that the issue might lead to a fire.
Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of fire services, told the press earlier in the evening that temperatures inside the burning buildings posed a challenge to firefighting efforts.
“Debris and scaffolding of the affected building are falling down, posing additional danger to our frontline personnel,” he said.
“Besides, the temperature inside the building is very high; it’s quite difficult for us to enter the building and go upstairs to conduct firefighting and rescue operations.”
Engineer Au said another factor that had fostered the fire’s spread was the radiation heat emitted during the blaze, which would cause neighbouring flammable objects to catch fire as well.
“It’s like being in an oven. There’s heat covering the entire surface of the outer walls; in this case, furniture inside would burn,” Au said. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
