Hong Kong Fire Services Department sets out inspection, licensing and training changes

Hong Kong year-end review: response activity and regulatory changes

The Hong Kong Fire Services Department recorded fewer fire calls in 2025, alongside new inspection measures and regulatory initiatives affecting buildings and fire safety compliance.

Details were presented in a year-end review delivered on February 24 by Mr Andy Yeung, Director of Fire Services.

Total fire calls reached 35,972 in 2025, compared with 37,828 in 2024.

False alarms fell to 26,915 cases, down from 29,357 the previous year.

Damaging building fires reached 2,000 cases, an increase of 25 incidents compared with 2024.

Electrical faults accounted for about 42 per cent of building fires and human negligence, including careless handling of cigarette ends and candles, accounted for about 25 per cent.

Response performance remained above target, with 96.1 per cent of building fire calls attended within the graded response time, exceeding the department’s 92.5 per cent performance pledge.

A No. 5 alarm fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po on November 26 resulted in 168 deaths and the loss of Senior Fireman (Posthumous) Ho Wai-ho.

Special service calls rose to 42,485 in 2025, compared with 39,320 in 2024.

More than 800 special service calls were handled during Super Typhoon Ragasa in September, including 514 incidents involving fallen trees.

Emergency response personnel also attended a serious aircraft accident at Hong Kong International Airport in October, evacuating four crew members from the cabin.

International deployments included participation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) search and rescue team following a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar, where personnel helped rescue a survivor trapped for more than 125 hours.

Regulatory developments included the launch of the Registered Fire Engineer Scheme in November 2025, allowing qualified professionals to carry out fire safety risk assessments within a defined scope.

Support for older buildings expanded through three Building Improvement Support Centres, which handled 23,239 cases by the end of 2025.

Approvals of fire services installation drawings increased from 1,176 buildings in 2024 to 1,507 in 2025.

A pilot scheme allowing enforcement authorities to carry out fire safety improvement works on behalf of non-compliant building owners was introduced in the third quarter of 2025, covering 10 buildings.

Testing of an Internet of Things fire detection system began in 10 buildings of six storeys or below, with completion of the pilot phase expected in early 2026.

Inspection timelines for new fire protection facilities were shortened, with average acceptance inspection durations reduced from 52 to 35 days for regular projects and 22 days for public housing projects.

Remote inspection pilots using video conferencing processed 563 licence-related cases between August and December 2025, with full implementation planned for 2026.

Yeung said: “saving those in distress and protecting the community”.

Hong Kong fire safety education: VR expansion and community training targets

Hong Kong authorities outlined plans to expand fire safety education, including increased use of virtual reality technology and wider community training programmes.

Information was provided in a Legislative Council reply on February 25 by Mr Tang Ping-keung, Secretary for Security.

Fire safety talks and advisory services increased over the past three years, reaching 147,487 in 2025, up from 141,565 in 2024 and 133,295 in 2023.

District-level fire safety work has been coordinated through the Fire Services Department Community Collaboration Network, which includes Divisional Commanders and district fire safety committee representatives.

Distribution of emergency preparedness equipment formed part of this work, with more than 3,000 sets of fire extinguishers, fire blankets and stand-alone detectors provided in 2025.

Plans for 2026 include distribution of 5,400 disaster and emergency preparedness kits equipped with smoke hoods.

Community training programmes continued to expand, with 8,420 members joining the Community Emergency Responder Scheme by the end of 2025.

Annual recruitment targets for the scheme have been increased to 10,000 participants.

Specialised Building Emergency Responder training has also been introduced for property management personnel, residents and building representatives.

Around 100 property management personnel completed training in December 2025.

A further 15,000 licensed property management personnel are scheduled to receive training in 2026 through collaboration with the Property Management Services Authority.

Use of immersive training tools remains part of the education approach, including the Emergency Preparedness Education Bus, which features a virtual reality simulation system.

Additional virtual reality elements will be incorporated into community training programmes, enabling participants to experience simulated emergency scenarios through visual and audio environments.

Two Disaster Prevention Experience Centres are planned for Wan Chai and Tseung Kwan O, featuring facilities and equipment designed to simulate fire incidents and other emergencies.

School-based programmes remain part of the education framework, with the Fire Services Department working alongside the Education Bureau to deliver training and preparedness activities.

Schools are required to conduct fire drills at least once every six months and maintain written evacuation records.

The Hong Kong updates combine operational data from 2025 with regulatory, inspection and training measures planned for implementation during 2026.