Hill fire rages on Lamma Island, with Hong Kong Government Flying Service called in to dump water on flames
The fire broke out just after noon and quickly spread to an area 1km wide
A Government Flying Service helicopter was deployed to water-bomb a raging hill fire on Lamma Island on Tuesday, as firefighters continued battling the blaze that had started after noon.
The air and land emergency operation began after the fire broke out on a hillside about 1.5km from Hung Shing Yeh Beach at around 12.15pm.
Seven fire engines were dispatched to the scene and more than 20 firefighters were deployed to battle the blaze, according to the Fire Services Department.
By 9.30pm, a spokesman for the department said the fire had been extinguished.
A popular family walk between Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan on the island has been closed following the incident.
A police spokeswoman said the fire began in an area measuring 100 metres by 200 metres but soon engulfed a stretch of land 1km wide.
“It is not close to any residential area and no evacuation was need,” she added.
No injuries were reported.
According to the Hong Kong Observatory, the Red Fire Danger Warning – indicating extreme fire risk – was issued at about 11am, with relative humidity at 57 per cent.
“A dry northeast monsoon continues to bring fine weather to southern China,” the Observatory stated on its website. “Locally, the relative humidity over most parts of the territory stayed at 50 per cent or below in the afternoon.”
The observatory cancelled the red fire warning at 7.30pm.
The weather for the next few days is expected to be fine and dry.
