Hong Kong fire department apologises over leak of fire-fighting foam into stream
Training school commandant insists foam was non-toxic and mostly water
Hong Kong’s Fire Services Department apologised for causing concern as it confirmed a massive spill of foam found in a stream in Tseung Kwan O earlier this month was caused by a “human error” in one of its simulation drills.
Watch: The foam leak in Tseung Kwan O
Ngai said the officers failed to open one of the valves in time during the drill, which allowed some foam to run directly into storm drains without going through its foam treatment system.
“The initial finding shows the foam in the stream might have been discharged from the water nullah inside the academy. We apologise for the concerns and worries caused to the public,” Ngai said.
He added that some officers were not yet familiar with the academy’s new aircraft fire simulator – which was bought by the academy in late October – and this contributed to the incident.
