No. 5 alarm fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po yesterday (Nov. 26), resulting in multiple casualties. The seven buildings that caught fire were undergoing scaffolding work, and it is suspected that the external construction materials did not meet fire safety standards. Three responsible individuals from the servicing company have been arrested.
DotDotNews has summarized how to distinguish fire alarms and provided a guide for escaping fires in high-rise buildings.
How to distinguish fire alarm levels?
Fire Alarm Classification System in Hong Kong
No. 1 Fire
The Fire Services Department initially categorizes a commercial or residential building fire as a No. 1 fire, notifying nearby fire stations to dispatch a pump vehicle, an aerial ladder truck, a hydraulic platform, a rescue vehicle, and an ambulance, collectively known as the "four reds and one white" firefighting units. A fire commander or senior officer will lead the operation with more than 20 firefighters engaged in the mission.
No. 2 Fire
Based on the environment of the fire scene, such as high foot traffic or the presence of hazardous materials, a decision will be made on whether to upgrade the classification. A No. 2 fire will deploy 5 fire hoses and 5 to 15 fire engines, with the number of firefighters increasing to 50.
No. 3 Fire
If the fire is uncontrolled, producing a large amount of smoke, and there are many people trapped, the fire commander may consider upgrading to No. 3. This will involve sending 15 to 20 fire engines and over 100 firefighters to the scene, with an additional 5 to 10 fire hoses for backup. The command will be elevated to senior area commanders and fire commanders.
No. 4 Fire
If the situation continues to worsen and poses a threat to residents' lives, especially if the fire is above the fifth floor, additional rescue personnel and equipment will be required, leading to a No. 4 classification. This would involve dispatching 20 to 35 fire engines, with personnel increasing to 100 to 150 and 10 to 25 fire hoses. The scene will be commanded by a Deputy Chief Fire Officer.
No. 5 Fire
When the fire is completely out of control and spreading rapidly, with an increased number of injuries that surpass what is needed for a Level 4 fire, the scene commander may escalate the fire to No. 5. At least 35 fire engines, 150 firefighters, and 26 to 50 fire hoses will be deployed, commanded by the Chief Fire Officer. If the fire continues to intensify, the Home Affairs Department will coordinate multiple government departments to assist with rescue efforts.
Disaster Alert
If the fire worsens and it is anticipated that extinguishing it will be extremely difficult or impossible, necessitating waiting for the fire to extinguish naturally, it will escalate to the highest level, the "Disaster Level." All firefighters in Hong Kong must be prepared to mobilize or rotate at any time. This alert can only be issued by the Director of Fire Services, or at the request of fire officers at the district commander level or above to the Director.
How should high-rise residents safely escape during a fire emergency? Here's a quick guide to follow!
Should You Run Up or Down?
If the fire is on the floor above your unit, it is clear that you should run down.
If the fire is on the floor below, you need to calmly assess the situation and make the right decision. First, determine the severity of the fire by carefully observing whether there is smoke in the staircase. If the smoke and fire are not significant, take the opportunity to run down quickly without hesitation. However, if the fire is intense below, do not forcibly try to escape by going down; the temperature in the fire could exceed 1,000 degrees Celsius. Instead, you should run up to a safer floor or the rooftop. Wave brightly colored clothing vigorously and shout for help while waiting for rescue.
If you encounter smoke both above and below, or if you are nearing the top floor and the rooftop door cannot be opened, and if the path down is blocked by fire, you may need to establish multiple fire barriers for self-rescue and wait for help.
Establishing Multiple Fire Barriers
Tip 1: Close Doors
Close your room door tightly and use the temperature of the door and doorknob to assess the fire's status outside.
Tip 2: Seal Gaps
Use wet towels, wet clothes, or pasty substances like toothpaste or hand cream to seal gaps in doors and windows to prevent smoke from entering and causing asphyxiation.
Tip 3: Splash Water
Wet everything near the door with water, using a basin or similar container to pour water on the door to prevent it from burning through.
If necessary and feasible, you can turn off the main power switch and open all faucets in your home, including the shower, while plugging the drains. Soak all combustible materials to create a "water barrier," slowing down the fire's spread.
Should You Wait or Run?
If you are at home and unclear about the fire situation, first assess the fire's intensity using other methods. You can touch the doorknob with the back of your hand; if it is not hot, it indicates that the flames are still some distance away. In this case, quickly evacuate, remembering to take a wet towel or wet cloth with you!
If the doorknob is very hot, do not rush to open the door, as flames could be very close. In this situation, establish multiple fire barriers to protect yourself and wait for rescue.
If the fire spreads rapidly, quickly enter a room that is easy to be rescued from, and find a hollow pipe, such as a broomstick with both ends removed, to extend out the window for air.
If possible, prepare a descent device in your home as a precaution.
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Wang Fuk Court No. 5 fire | Firefighters arrive in 5 minutes: Govt responds swiftly
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