Praised as heroes, stung by criticism: firefighters torn over Tai Po blaze report
After spending 12 gruelling hours battling the Tai Po inferno, frontline firefighter Ah Fai* could not have imagined that, barely a year later, his department would find itself under the harsh glare of public scrutiny. The trauma of that night is still raw. He remembers burning debris from the bamboo scaffolding raining down from above, blocking one of the main entrances of Wang Fuk Court. “Our…
Firefighters who battled the Tai Po blaze earlier this year are grappling with mixed emotions following the release of an independent inquiry report. Ah Fai, a frontline firefighter, recalled the tragedy, describing the horror of debris raining down from burning bamboo scaffolding and the harrowing rescue of a man who later emerged with a human skull.
However, the report, while praising the firefighters' heroism, also highlighted oversight failures by the Fire Services Department (FSD) that contributed to the tragedy. Some firefighters feel the report has created a rift between frontline personnel and management, with Ah Fai expressing guilt over the criticism. Senior officer Peter echoed that sentiment, stating that the ultimate responsibility lies with the department and that the outcome makes it hard to claim they performed well.
The report criticized the FSD for a lack of sense of crisis and for relying on passive, paper-driven audit regimes. It also found that the department had neglected issues with contractors, such as deactivated fire hydrants and hosepipe reel systems, which left residents unaware of the fire. The department's shifting of responsibility for fire safety issues at Wang Fuk Court has further fueled the firefighters' frustration, with Peter stating that it creates a vacuum and leaves such matters in a grey area.
Despite the report's criticisms, both Ah Fai and Peter acknowledged the firefighters' bravery and the department's overall gratitude from the public.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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