Level three fire in Luk Mei Village, Sai Kung extinguished after six hours

8 September 2022 rsbradbeer ACCIDENTS AND CRIME, COMMUNITY 0

A fire broke out at Luk Mei Tsuen Road in Sai Kung at 7:19 pm last night (7/9). The fire was upgraded to No. 3 alarm at 8:14 pm, surrounded at 10:37 pm and under control at 11:28 pm. It was largely extinguished at 0:51 am this morning.

Firemen used four jets and mobilised four breathing apparatus teams to fight the blaze. About 20 people were evacuated safely and no casualties have been reported.

At about 1:35 am this morning, the Acting District Chief of the Fire Services Department, Mr. Chan Kwok-ming explained the details of the incident.

Chan said that the fire department received a report at 7:19 p.m. yesterday (7/9) that a fire broke out in a garage in Luk Mei Village, Sai Kung, and firefighters arrived at the scene six minutes later. Due to the fierce fire at the scene and signs of it spreading – the fire had an area of about 30 metres by 15 metres -the department decided to raise the fire alarm to level three at 8:14 pm.

Chan said that the Fire Department dispatched a total of 144 firefighters and ambulance personnel, 44 fire engines and ambulances, activated four hoses and dispatched four teams with breathing apparatus. At the same time, the fire department also dispatched drones and used thermal imaging cameras to detect the temperature of the fire to assist in the rescue.

^{Acting District Chief of the Fire Services Department, Mr. Chan Kwok-ming}

Chan confirmed that the fire was surrounded at 10:37 pm, and was put out roughly at 0:51 am this morning. During this time, about 30 residents were evacuated to safety. No injuries were reported in the incident, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Chan also explained that firefighters encountered certain difficulties when fighting the fire. Since the fire scene was far from the water source, the Fire Services Department needed to lay about 400 metres of hose to reach the fire scene; in addition, the fire-fighting time was delayed for firefighters due to the narrow environment close to the garage involved and the parking of vehicles waiting to be repaired.