Dicky Hui Sau-hung (right) has fought 40 fires in his 25 years with the emergency unit of the Civil Aid Service, but the Tai Lam hill fire was the biggest and most difficult.
For two nights in a row, after work, Mr Hui, a chauffeur, rushed to the area at about 9pm to join 40 other volunteers and 10 firemen and battle the blaze for about five hours.
'Although we were equipped with torches and lamps, it was dark and dangerous going up the hill towards the fire,' he said.
'As we progressed, the hill became steeper and we were faced by thick bush and trees. We also had to avoid falling into smouldering holes in the ground. Fortunately no one was injured.
'The frequent changes in wind direction were a major problem. Often, when this happened, we had to back-pedal quickly as the flames came our way very fast.'
Because there was no path, they were vulnerable on the rough and uneven terrain.
