A Fire Services Department commander involved in fighting the fatal Wang Fuk Courthouse fire has told an investigative committee that there was no evidence that firefighter Ho Wai-ho entered one of the property’s buildings before his death.
Attesting to The 11th day of investigative hearings In the tragedy that killed 168 people, senior station officer Ho Kin-on of Tai Po Fire Station said he did not appoint a designated officer to keep a record of firefighters entering buildings.
Ho Kin-on, who led firefighters in the first 30 minutes of the blaze, told Lee Shu-wan, a lawyer representing the independent committee investigating the fire, that he did not assign an entry control officer as firefighters were still fighting the fire outside the buildings.
The deceased Ho Wai-ho was among the 168 lives lost in the fire that engulfed seven of the eight buildings in the Tai Po housing complex. He died in the line of duty on November 26, the day the fire broke out, and was posthumously promoted to senior firefighter.
The fallen firefighter, stationed at Sha Tin Fire Station, was assigned to a rescue operation with two colleagues on the 27th floor of Wang Cheong House, the first building to catch fire. But video evidence showed him entering the neighboring Wang Tai home alone at 3.15pm.
At 15:22, other firefighters received a Mayday distress signal from the 30th floor of one of the buildings, later confirmed to have been sent by Ho Wai-ho.
He was unable to determine his whereabouts when he made the distress call, the committee heard. When firefighters radioed for his name, he did not respond.
“At a Total Loss”
Asked if he was “at a complete loss” as to where the firefighter might have been, Ho Kin-on said he was. “I was surprised how it rose to such a height when the fire was so heavy,” he added.
Five to six teams, each with up to 20 firefighters, were deployed in the Mayday rescue operation.
The committee also heard that firefighters were initially unable to enter the buildings because falling debris, including bamboo scaffolding and netting, had piled up outside the entrance to Wang Cheong House, the first tower to burn.
They could sometimes open openings to enter the premises, but had to keep cleaning up the falling debris.
Ho Wai-ho was discovered on the ground outside Wang Tai House at 3:55 p.m. He was rushed to the hospital and later pronounced dead.
