Tai Po fire interim report details circumstances of firefighter death; finds cigarette butt likely cause

An interim report into a devastating fire at Hong Kong's Wang Fuk Court has concluded that the blaze, which claimed 168 lives and displaced thousands last November, was likely ignited by a discarded cigarette butt. The investigation committee's findings, made public on Friday, also shed light on the circumstances surrounding the death of firefighter Ho Wai-ho.

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While the windy and dry weather conditions contributed to its development, it was the abundant presence of combustible materials that played a crucial role in allowing the fire to grow in size, intensify and rapidly spread further to other combustibles.

The fire originated on a platform outside two flats on the first floor of Wang Cheong House, the building first engulfed by flames. The committee attributed the cause to the "improper disposal" of a cigarette, leading to the ignition of combustible materials. Smoking has since been banned on construction sites across the territory.

Contributing factors to the fire's rapid spread included windy and dry weather conditions, coupled with an abundance of flammable materials such as wooden planks and cardboard. The report also pointed to the use of substandard, non-fire-retardant scaffolding nets by the renovation contractor.

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the government had an “unshirkable responsibility” over the fire.

The investigation identified systemic issues, including the construction sector's alleged greed and a culture of "buck-passing," alongside regulatory gaps in the government's oversight. The inquiry committee's lawyer emphasized the government's "unshirkable responsibility" for the tragedy. Firefighter Ho Wai-ho, aged 37, received a full-honours funeral. His fire-damaged uniform and gear, including a charred t-shirt, jacket, trousers, anti-flash hood, and a helmet with a cracked visor, were included in the report.

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Ho “might have been in prolonged contact with hot or burning objects, resulting in severe fire damage” to his uniform.