More Hong Kong hill fires reported after hottest Ching Ming festival on record

A further 15 hill fires were reported to the Fire Services Department today following 151 such reports yesterday as Hong Kong marked the hottest Ching Ming festival since records began.

Burning of paper offerings and incense on hillside tombs during the festival, also known as tomb sweeping day, after a yellow fire danger warning was hoisted is believed to be the main reason for the spreading blazes.

All the fires reported yesterday had been extinguished as of this morning.

Yesterday was the hottest Ching Ming festival since records began in 1947, with the highest temperature recorded reaching 30.6 degrees Celsius.

No major hill fire has been reported so far today.

Yesterday, it took firefighters five hours to put out a blaze that spread to a recycling plant at Sha Kong Wai in Lau Fau Shan. In Pat Heung meanwhile, firefighters put out two fires near Cheung Po and Tai Kong Po.