The Memories of the Surrounding Residents about the Fire in Tai Po

Recalling the start of the fire, an elderly resident said she was alone at home, taking a nap, at that time. Hearing the alarm sound with smoke coming out, she immediately called the estate office for an inquiry and fled in panic. An Indian resident pointed out that she heard from her neighbours that the fire source was suspected to be caused by someone smoking and gradually spread to the whole scaffolding.

The No.5 Alarm Fire in Tai Po, Photo by Bastille Post

Residents are waiting at the scene for upcoming information after escaping from their home, Photo by Bastille Post

The site of the fire, Wang Fuk Court is undergoing extensive repair currently. Eight buildings are surrounded by scaffolding. According to the website of the Incorporated Owners of Wang Fuk Court, as of the 10th of this month, the buildings are also undergoing interior wall painting, exterior wall plastering and spraying, and laying mosaic tiles.

Ms. Ng, Photo by Bastille Post

Ms. Ng, a resident of the No.3 Building, said that the incident occurred around 3 p.m. At that time, she was taking a nap in her house. Hearing the fire alarm sound with smoke coming out, she immediately called the estate office for inquiry. Realizing a fire accident was happening, she fled at once. "Hearing the fire alarm sound and seeing the smoke, I immediately decided to flee. Fortunately, I made the right choice." said by Ms. Ng.

Jaur Harjit, Photo by Bastille Post

Jaur Harjit, an Indian resident of the No.8 Building, pointed out that she, her husband and son were all inside the house when the incident happened. While her son was sleeping, her husband heard the alarm sound and noticed some smoke was coming out. Realizing it might be the signal of a fire accident, he fled immediately. "We are lucky enough to flee at the last minute," she said. It was the first time for her to encounter a fire alarm in Hong Kong. Even her daughter was very panicked about the situation. According to Jaur Harjit, she heard from her neighbours saying that the fire source was suspected to be caused by someone smoking and gradually spread to the whole scaffolding.

Mr. Wong, Photo by Bastille Post

The resident, Mr. Wong, said that he was worried and came back to check the situation of his home upon hearing the news of the fire alarm. Fortunately, all his family members were out working, and the fire just temporarily affected the building he lived in. He was still observing the scene with anxiety and would need to stay at his friend's home tonight.

Residents have been evacuated to the nearby area. Photo by Bastille Post

The resident, Mr. Gaan, said that he felt quite nervous about looking for his family. In his eyes, since the buildings had all been surrounded by scaffolding for extensive repair, "if there were workers smoking or any other situation just happened, it would catch fire easily." Some residents also said that the fire broke out first at Wang Cheong House, and then spread to Wang Sun House and Wang Tai House, with most of the units affected as well.

The community hall is now open to residents for shelter. Photo by Bastille Post

A theft occurred recently at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, with three workers involved in reinforcement work arrested for suspected of stealing valuables from a unit. Mr. Chow Yat-ming, the Commissioner of Police, stated that security at Wang Fuk Court will be strengthened, including requiring workers to undergo body searches upon leaving.

Mr. Chow Yat-ming, the Commissioner of Police, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Chow stated that the police suspended all reinforcement work at Wang Fuk Court immediately after the theft. Following a review, four new security measures will be introduced. These include increased police patrols, requiring workers to store personal valuables—such as jewelry, watches, and cash—in lockers before heading upstairs, and limiting each worker to carrying no more than HKD $500 in cash on-site (mobile phones are permitted). Additionally, police will first document any visibly valuable items inside the units, and workers will be subject to body searches and metal detector checks upon exit. The reinforcement work is scheduled to resume on Monday (9th).

Mr. Chow Yat-ming, the Commissioner of Police, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Chow noted that during previous work periods, police had registered workers' personal information—including ID card numbers and phone numbers—before officers escorted them to their work floors. Workers were also prohibited from carrying backpacks or bags upstairs. He added that only the three arrested workers have been implicated in the case so far, with no involvement of others found. As of 5 p.m. on March 7, police had received approximately 81 related reports, most of which expressed concerns from residents about unit security. Police will follow up on each report to determine whether theft was involved.

Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Chow also stated receiving a report from a resident who suspected credit card theft. He urged residents worried about credit or bank cards left in their units to contact their banks immediately to report the loss and arrange for replacements. When asked whether the incident pointed to possible police negligence, Mr. Chow said an internal review would be conducted. If human error is identified, disciplinary action may follow.

Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Photo by Bastille Post