(Video) No. 3 alarm fire destroys Lo Wai Village homes, residents claim lose everything

A No 3 alarm fire that swept through Lo Wai Village in Lei Muk Shue, Tsuen Wan late Thursday night was largely extinguished by around 12.20am Friday, destroying several tin-roofed houses but causing no injuries. Firefighters said the blaze, which broke out dangerously close to neighboring homes, is not considered suspicious.

The blaze broke out around 9.48pm near Lo Wai Public School, engulfing two 10m x 10m structures built with tin sheets and bricks, with the ground and first floors of one building fully ablaze. Fire services upgraded the response to No 3 alarm at 10.07pm due to the intense flames threatening nearby buildings just 2-3 meters away.

The Fire Services Department deployed 43 fire and ambulance vehicles and 161 personnel, using four jets, four breathing apparatus teams, and a drone for thermal imaging to monitor fire spread. Firefighters also set up protective water jets at nearby elevated positions. The blaze was largely extinguished by 12.20am Thursday.

About 60 villagers evacuated with fire services' assistance, with another 40 fleeing to safety on their own. The six residents who lived in the affected buildings were not home when the fire started and have temporarily relocated to relatives' homes. The Home Affairs Department prepared temporary shelters at Lei Muk Shue Community Hall and Sheng Kung Hui Lady MacLehose Centre, though no residents have requested use.

Police deployed emergency units, traffic division and patrol teams for crowd management, with road closures gradually lifting after scene clearance.

Deputy Divisional Commander (New Territories South) Li Ho-yin said preliminary investigations indicate no suspicious circumstances. A dedicated investigation team has begun evidence collection at the scene.

One female resident surnamed Yu, who had lived in her home for about 40 years, surveyed the charred remains with despair. "Everything inside is gone, all my belongings and savings," she claimed. Although the home contained two LPG cylinders, she maintained they were always handled carefully. Electrical wiring had been recently replaced, leaving her bewildered about the cause.

Next-door neighbor Mr Ng described his narrow escape: "Thick smoke kept rushing into my house. I was coughing terribly." He fled using a wet towel to cover his mouth. "Of course I was worried – if it spread to my side, I'd be homeless," he said.

Another resident, Mr Wong, heard crackling sounds like firecrackers and quickly evacuated with his daughter.