Investigators Trace Hong Kong Fire’s Swift Spread to Flammable Foam Used in Renovation

Authorities are intensifying their probe into a devastating fire at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex that claimed 55 lives and injured more than 70 others, with a sharp focus on highly flammable construction materials that investigators believe accelerated the blaze's rapid spread. The incident, which occurred in a densely populated housing estate built in the 1980s and home to around 4,800 residents—many of them elderly—has prompted the arrest of three senior officials from Prestige Construction and Engineering Company Limited on suspicion of manslaughter. The complex, comprising eight buildings with 2,000 apartments, was undergoing major renovations at the time, and preliminary findings point to the use of non-compliant materials on the building's exterior as a critical factor in the tragedy.

Central to the investigation is the widespread use of Styrofoam, a petroleum-based polystyrene foam, which was affixed to windows across multiple floors to shield against debris during the works. According to reports from the Associated Press and local outlet The Standard, this material—also known as foam board—was explicitly listed in a renovation notice issued last year by the owners' body and the contractor. Styrofoam's composition, consisting of 95 to 98 percent air trapped in plastic beads, renders it lightweight and insulating but dangerously prone to ignition at low temperatures. Once alight, it generates intense heat, dense black smoke, and toxic fumes, including carbon monoxide, which can overwhelm escape routes and exacerbate respiratory hazards in confined spaces like high-rise corridors.

Firefighters responding to the alarm noted that protective elements such as netting, waterproof canvas, plastic sheeting, and the foam boards burned far more aggressively than fire-rated alternatives, fueling the flames' vertical and horizontal progression. Secretary for Security Chris Tang highlighted these "unusual" conditions, announcing a joint task force between police and fire services to examine compliance with building and fire safety standards, potentially leading to criminal charges for gross negligence. Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung echoed these concerns, observing that sealed ventilation windows in an adjacent unaffected tower—also lined with foam—posed a severe risk of fire transmission if exposed to heat. Senior police officer Eileen Chung described the contractors' oversight as "grossly negligent," underscoring how such shortcuts in a renovation project turned a routine maintenance effort into a catastrophic event.

Also Read: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan Demands Centre Approve Wildlife Law Changes Now

This fire ranks among Hong Kong's deadliest in recent decades, evoking memories of a 1996 commercial building blaze that killed 41 people over 20 hours. Resident Lawrence Lee shared a harrowing account with the Associated Press, recounting how his wife, trapped by smoke-filled stairs after fleeing her apartment, had no choice but to retreat inside while he waited anxiously at a shelter. As the city grapples with grief and demands for accountability, the incident has reignited debates over stringent material regulations in aging infrastructure. Hong Kong's Buildings Department has long mandated flame-retardant alternatives for external works, yet enforcement gaps appear to have played a role here. With the task force's findings expected to shape future safety protocols, this tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the human cost when construction priorities falter, prompting calls for nationwide reviews of similar renovation practices in high-density urban environments.

Also Read: PM Modi Hails Gen Z as India's Space Revolution Architects During Skyroot Launch