Firefighter killed in Tai Po blaze may have entered wrong building, inquiry told

2026.03.19 14:20 The fire at Wang Fuk Court quickly spread to seven buildings. Photo: Eugene Lee A firefighter killed in Hong Kong’s deadliest blaze in decades may have entered the wrong building amid the initial chaos at the scene and fallen from a height, the first day of a public hearing into the inferno has heard. More details surrounding the death of 37-year-old Ho Wai-ho, among the first batch of firefighters sent to tackle the blaze, emerged as the independent committee set up by the government to investigate the fire at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Tai Po held its first evidential session on Thursday. Victor Dawes SC, the lead barrister for the committee, said in his opening statement that when Ho’s body was found on open ground, his breathing apparatus was not with him and some of his gear was recovered on the 31st floor of Wang Tai House, one of seven residential blocks engulfed by the blaze. “It is likely that, facing an extremely adverse situation on the 31st floor of Wang Tai House, he removed the breathing apparatus, broke the windows and tried to escape from there. But he eventually fell from height,” Dawes said. “A preliminary autopsy showed that Ho had breathed in excessive carbon monoxide before his death, with scratches, burns and broken bones found [on his body].” The inferno broke out on November 26, killing at least 168 people, including Ho, and displacing nearly 5,000 residents. Firefighter Ho Wai-ho was buried at Gallant Garden in December. Photo: Eugene Lee Surveillance camera footage played at the hearing showed Ho exiting a lift on the 25th floor of Wang Tai House at about 3.15pm. He sent a “mayday” signal seven minutes later. Dawes said Ho had been called to a rescue on the 27th floor of Wang Cheong House, but might have gone to the wrong building amid the chaotic situation. “He could not tell which building he was in, and this might have delayed the endeavour to rescue him,” Dawes said. Ho was eventually found on open ground

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