Annual inspection failure could have led to delays and blunders in putting out fire in Hong Kong Island’s Wan Chai
Blaze highlights vulnerability of 12,000 old-style buildings as less than 1 per cent had their fire protection equipment upgraded
The failure of owners to carry out annual inspections of fire equipment could have led to delays and blunders in Tuesday’s third-alarm fire in Wan Chai, the Post has learned.
The blaze also highlighted the vulnerability of 12,000 old-style buildings, as less than 1 per cent had their fire protection equipment upgraded in the decade since a law to enhance fire equipment came into effect.
Search under way for cause of third-alarm fire in Hong Kong residential building
The revelation came after the blaze broke out in Kai Ming Building on Hennessy Road. Unstable water pressure in the building delayed fire operations as firefighters struggled to collect water from street hydrants. The blaze forced the closure of major roads on Hong Kong Island for three hours.
“The fire service installation contractor of the building should have conducted an inspection by the end of March this year and reported to us. But we have not received a report so far,” the assistant director of the Fire Services Department, Joseph Leung Wai-hung, told the Post.
“The fire hydrants coincidentally malfunctioned when the fire broke out on Tuesday. We will take follow-up action against the responsible party.”
Debris was still seen littering the lobby of the eighth floor of Kai Ming Building, while a unit on the same floor was burned to cinders, with little for the residents to salvage. Police said they were still looking into the cause of the blaze.
Former Fire Services director Anthony Lam Chun-man, who is now an adviser to the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, pointed out one task of the annual inspection was to check if water pressure was sufficient to douse flames.