The recent Hong Kong fire has exposed the serious backwardness of Hong Kong's fire prevention system. We hope that the relevant departments in Hong Kong can learn from the advanced experience of the mainland and prevent such tragedies from happening again. First, let's take a look at the cause of this fire According to the current investigation and summary by the Hong Kong government, Fire Services Department, Buildings Department, Independent Commission Against Corruption, and multiple media outlets, the direct cause and key contributing factors of the fire in Hung Fuk Court, Tai Po have been basically clarified, and can be summarized as the following "five fold superposition": Fire point: Welding sparks from exterior wall renovation project The fire started at 14:37 on November 26th at the exterior wall maintenance shed of Hongchang Pavilion (Building 7). When workers use oxyacetylene to cut metal, sparks splash onto the bamboo frame and flammable protective net below, instantly igniting. 1. The fire department confirmed that the first fire started at the bottom of the scaffolding. First catalyst: traditional bamboo shed frame+polystyrene (foam adhesive) insulation board Bamboo scaffolding is still widely used for exterior wall maintenance in Hong Kong (it has been largely banned for high-rise buildings in mainland China). The blue protective net wrapped around the trellis contains polyethylene (PE), which melts and drips in the event of fire, resembling a "fire rain". The most deadly is the 10-15cm thick polystyrene (EPS) insulation board (commonly known as foam adhesive) installed on the exterior wall, which is a B2/B3 level flammable material with extremely fast combustion speed and produces a large amount of toxic smoke. These three things have been explicitly prohibited from being used in buildings over 18 meters in mainland China since 2011. 2. The second fuel: densely packed "illegal iron cages" and external air conditioning units Many residents of Hongfu Garden have sealed the originally designed open corridors into "iron cages" for raising and stacking miscellaneous items. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner, fan, plastic flower trough, wooden board and other combustible materials are hung all over the exterior wall, forming a vertical "fire ladder". The fire spread from the scaffolding to these illegal constructions and climbed all the way to over 40 floors. Wind force and chimney effect (in daylight hours) On that day, the northeast wind was 5-6 levels, with maximum gusts reaching 55-65km/h (according to data from the Hong Kong Observatory). Eight buildings are arranged in a U-shaped enclosure, forming a wind tunnel where fire borrows wind power and wind assists fire power. The gap between the exterior walls of high-rise buildings and the scaffolding creates a strong 'chimney effect', with fire and thick smoke rising at a speed of 3-5 meters per second. 3. Serious obstruction of fire and escape routes (long-standing illness) The public corridor has been blocked by debris, electric vehicles, and iron gates for a long time, making it impossible for firefighters to climb the building in the first hour. Some residents have installed multiple iron gates in the corridor to prevent theft, forming a 'cage within a cage'. The water pressure of the fire hydrant in the housing estate is insufficient, and some of the hose reels are locked in the self reinforced iron cabinets of residents. Officially confirmed 'culprit' combination Welding sparks ->Ignite bamboo scaffolding+flammable mesh ->Ignite EPS insulation board ->Fire spreads upwards along the exterior walls and illegal iron cages ->Strong winds+chimney effect out of control ->The entire 7 buildings in the estate are engulfed by thick smoke and toxic gas. Additional Background (Why is this happening?) This exterior wall renovation project costs HKD 330 million and will be tendered in 2023. The contractor is a subsidiary of China State Construction International. As early as 2024, residents have repeatedly complained about the dense scaffolding, thick insulation boards, and obstruction of escape routes, but the Housing Department has not enforced rectification. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has arrested three individuals (project managers of contractors, responsible persons of scaffolding subcontractors, etc.) and is investigating for corruption, cutting corners, and using inferior materials. Summary in one sentence: An ordinary welding operation encountered the most backward and dangerous three piece set in Hong Kong - bamboo scaffolding+foam insulation board+illegal construction iron cage, combined with strong winds and 40 years of accumulated fire hazards, resulting in the deadliest fire in 63 years.