Tai Po fire interim report details circumstances of firefighter death; finds cigarette butt likely cause
A final investigation report into the cause of the Tai Po blaze last year has concluded that the fatal fire was likely caused by a cigarette butt that ignited combustible materials at the worksite. Reports that became publicly accessible on the investigation committee’s website on Friday also included information on the death of Ho Wai-ho, […]
On November 26 of last year, a devastating fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court, a Home Ownership Scheme housing estate undergoing renovation, claiming the lives of 168 people and displacing thousands. The independent committee formed to investigate the cause of the fire has released its final report, concluding that the fire was likely ignited by a cigarette butt that came into contact with combustible materials at the worksite.
One of the firefighters who perished in the blaze was Ho Wai-ho, who was 37 years old at the time of his death. The interim report on the firefighter's death details that he may have been exposed to hot or burning objects, causing severe fire damage to his uniform, including a charred station t-shirt and trousers, a PBI matrix firefighting jacket and trousers, an anti-flash hood, and a helmet with a cracked visor.
Despite his gear being in working order according to tests conducted a month prior, the report indicates that Ho likely made the fatal decision to stay behind in the wrong building, Wang Tai House, in an attempt to assist in the evacuation of others. Surveillance footage shows Ho being separated from his team and entering the incorrect building.
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