A man in his 70s died after a fire broke out inside a flat at Hang Fai Building in Sai Ying Pun on Monday night, prompting the evacuation of about 60 residents and a major emergency response in the area.
Firefighters received the report at around 8pm on October 19 at the residential building at 22 to 32 Pok Fu Lam Road. They arrived within four minutes and found a fire inside a unit on a middle floor. The blaze was eventually extinguished at around 9.54pm using one fire hose and a breathing apparatus team.
Rescuers found the elderly man unconscious inside the flat and took him to Queen Mary Hospital. He was pronounced dead at around 10pm, according to the initial account of the incident.
The Fire Services Department said the fire was not believed to be suspicious and was thought to have started in the kitchen, possibly during cooking. Investigators are examining the circumstances of the blaze and the man's death.
The incident also disrupted traffic along a section of Pok Fu Lam Road, while residents described leaving the building after hearing the fire alarm and smelling smoke.
Firefighters respond to blaze at residential building
The fire broke out at Hang Fai Building, a residential property in Sai Ying Pun on Hong Kong Island. Emergency crews arrived within four minutes of receiving the report, beginning an operation to bring the fire under control and search the affected flat.
Firefighters used one water jet to tackle the flames, supported by a team wearing breathing apparatus. The equipment allowed personnel to operate in conditions where smoke and other hazards could make entering the building dangerous.
The operation continued until approximately 9.54pm, when firefighters extinguished the blaze. During the response, emergency personnel located the unconscious man inside the affected unit and arranged for his transfer to hospital.
Despite the medical response, the man did not survive. Queen Mary Hospital pronounced him dead at around 10pm.
Authorities have not released further details about his identity or the circumstances in which he was found. The available information also does not establish whether he lived alone or whether anyone else was inside the flat when the fire began.
The Fire Services Department's investigation is expected to examine the fire's point of origin and the events leading up to the emergency. Officials have indicated that the kitchen is the suspected starting point, although the exact cause has not been confirmed.
About 60 residents leave the building
The fire prompted about 60 residents to evacuate the building as emergency crews worked at the scene.
Residents described hearing the fire alarm and noticing the smell of burning before making their way downstairs. The alarm alerted people to the emergency, while the smell of smoke added to their concerns about what was happening inside the building.
One resident said she was so frightened during the incident that her legs gave way. Her account reflected the distress experienced by people leaving their homes while firefighters responded to a potentially dangerous situation.
The evacuation took place as emergency personnel worked to control the fire and assess conditions inside the building. Smoke can spread beyond the room where a fire begins, making it difficult for residents to judge the level of danger from inside their flats or common areas.
The available reports did not indicate whether any other residents required hospital treatment or suffered injuries during the evacuation.
Authorities have also not provided details about how long residents remained outside the building or whether anyone was temporarily prevented from returning to their homes.
The evacuation figure remains an initial estimate. Further information from officials could clarify whether all residents were able to leave safely and when access to the affected floors was restored.
Kitchen suspected as source of fire
The Fire Services Department said the blaze was not suspicious and was believed to have originated in the kitchen, possibly as a result of cooking.
Cooking related fires can begin when food or cooking oil overheats, when a flame spreads to nearby materials or when kitchen equipment malfunctions. However, the department has not confirmed that any of these specific circumstances occurred at Hang Fai Building.
The distinction matters because the suspected location of a fire does not, by itself, establish its precise cause. Investigators must determine what ignited the flames and how the fire developed before reaching a final conclusion.
No evidence of deliberate ignition was reported in the initial account, and officials did not describe the incident as suspicious. The investigation into the cause of the fire and the man's death remains ongoing.
The circumstances of the fatality also require examination. The man was found unconscious inside the flat, but authorities have not publicly established whether he died from smoke inhalation, burns, another medical event or a combination of factors.
A confirmed medical cause of death was not available in the initial report. Further findings from the relevant authorities would be needed to establish the circumstances conclusively.
Traffic restrictions affect Pok Fu Lam Road
The emergency response caused temporary disruption to traffic near the building.
A section of Pok Fu Lam Road between Third Street and Queen's Road West was closed in both directions while firefighters and other emergency personnel dealt with the incident. The restrictions affected movement through the area during the evening response.
Citybus routes 4, 7, 37A, 90B and 91 were diverted as a result of the road closure. Authorities also implemented single lane, two way traffic near Second Street to manage vehicles around the affected area.
The restrictions were intended to accommodate emergency operations and manage traffic while the fire was being dealt with. Road closures of this kind can affect bus journeys and motorists travelling through nearby streets, particularly when vehicles must use alternative routes.
The initial information did not specify when the affected roads reopened or when the diverted bus services returned to their normal routes. Travellers using the affected corridors would need to check current transport notices for any continuing changes.
Investigation continues after fatal fire
The fire at Hang Fai Building ended with one confirmed death, the evacuation of about 60 residents and disruption to traffic in Sai Ying Pun.
Firefighters arrived within minutes of the initial report and extinguished the blaze at around 9.54pm. However, the elderly man found unconscious inside the flat died after being taken to Queen Mary Hospital.
The Fire Services Department has indicated that the fire was not suspicious and may have started in the kitchen during cooking. Investigators must still establish the precise cause of the blaze and determine the circumstances surrounding the man's death.
Residents' accounts of the alarm, the smell of burning and their hurried evacuation provide a picture of the immediate response, but they do not establish how the fire began. That determination rests on the findings of the official investigation.
For residents, the incident also raises practical questions about fire preparedness in apartment buildings, including whether alarms can be heard clearly, whether escape routes remain accessible and whether people know how to leave safely when smoke is present.
Residents should never enter a smoke filled area to investigate a suspected fire. They should alert emergency services, follow building evacuation instructions and avoid lifts when leaving a building during a fire.
As investigators work to establish the cause of the fatal blaze, what additional fire prevention and evacuation measures could help protect residents in Hong Kong's high rise residential buildings?