Wang Fu Court Fire Report Blames Cigarette Butt, Flammable Materials

Summary

Key Points

• The fire originated on a platform outside Wang Cheong House units 104 and 105, where debris piled two metres high included safety netting, foam window covers, cardboard boxes, and tile backing paper 12.
• Two cigarette butts were found at the fire's starting point, and investigators found no accelerant traces or suspicious activity, with police ruling out arson 12.
• The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department eliminated electrical failure or liquefied petroleum gas as potential causes, and no welding work was occurring nearby 1.
• Rapid vertical fire spread was driven by chimney effects through building recesses, with flammable materials including bamboo scaffolding, wooden boards, canvas, and foam covers providing continuous fuel 12.
• Low humidity between 40-50% from 3am to 6am on the day of the fire contributed to faster fire spread 1.
• Fire spread mechanisms included vertical diffusion through recesses, flames entering through windows, and burning molten drips from melting scaffolding nets igniting lower levels 1.
• The fire alarm system failed in six of eight buildings, delaying evacuation warnings and reducing residents' response time 2.
• Foam window covers blocked residents' visibility of external conditions, delayed their reaction, fuelled fire spread, and produced toxic carbon monoxide gas 12.
• Among 81 deaths in Wang Cheong House, 24 occurred in corridors and stairwells; of 82 deaths in Wang Tai House, 38 died in these areas, with smoke inhalation confirmed as the primary cause of death 2.
• Expert reports indicated that flame-retardant safety netting and canvas might have allowed the initial fire to self-extinguish, preventing wider spread 2.
• Tests showed foam covers caused kitchen windows to fail and internal temperatures to reach 340-370°C, compared to below 100°C with intact windows when foam was absent 2.
• A total of 562 units suffered serious or extremely serious damage, with over 90% (518 units) located near the rapidly burning recesses 1.
• The commission completed 30 hearings before releasing the report, which was delayed to late October due to complex systemic issues requiring extensive document review 2.

Why It Matters