Probe into possible foul play in massive construction site blaze

Firefighters are investigating whether foul play was involved in the No 4 alarm fire that occurred at a construction site in Hung Shui Kiu.

The fire, which started at a Housing Society construction site on Hung Nga Road in Tin Shui Wai at 1.20pm on Tuesday, was largely extinguished by 7am the following day. However, firefighters remained at the scene to prevent any potential reignition of the fire.

Wong King-man, the deputy chief fire officer of New Territories North, said: "Firefighters faced numerous challenges during the operation. The fire site spans an area of about 5,600 square meters (70 meters by 80 meters) and contains a significant amount of construction materials and acetylene cylinders."

The presence of thick smoke and temperatures as high as 500 degrees Celsius hindered the firefighters' ability to enter the site, he added.

Consequently, they resorted to spraying water from the outside to cool the area, as entering the site could have endangered the stability of two 50-meter-tall cranes.

The severity of the fire prompted it to be upgraded to a No 4 alarm - the second-highest level in the five-level system - at 9.31pm on Tuesday.

The situation eventually came under control on Wednesday afternoon. Throughout the operation, the Fire Services Department deployed 201 fire engines, 14 ambulances, 741 firefighters, as well as ambulance personnel. Additionally, eight water jets and six breathing apparatus teams were involved. Drones and firefighting robots were also utilized to locate fire sources and aid in extinguishing the flames.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Wong said: "There are two Class 2 dangerous goods storage facilities at the construction site where acetylene and oxygen bottles can be stored. The department will establish a task force to investigate whether any violations occurred."

Mary Chan Yuen-ming, a chief officer at the Buildings Department, expressed concern about the two cranes, which are at risk of collapsing.

Officers from the department will closely monitor the situation and conduct a thorough assessment of the site before determining when construction work can resume.

The Housing Society issued an order to halt construction work on Wednesday. Nearby roads will remain closed until further notice, according to the police.

Lee Kwong-sing, a safety advisor from the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union, suggested that the fire may have been caused by improper use of acetylene cylinders for cutting purposes.

He added that such incidents could be avoided if proper safety procedures were followed at the site.