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NTN trio brave smoke and flames to save lives
Three New Territories North Region officers recently risked their own lives to save people from two fires.
In the first case, Police Constable Liu Kin-tung of Tai Po Division Patrol Sub-unit One was in Fu Heng Estate about 8.50 am April 15, when he heard of a fire in Heng Yue House. Seeing smoke and flames billowing from a fifth-floor flat, PC Liu rushed upstairs.
The corridor was permeated with smoke and visibility was zero, so bad he could not even locate the fire alarm and hose. He started alerting residents and went down to the fourth floor to hit the alarm and grab the fire hose and return upstairs. He sprayed water around the corridor and banged heavily on flat doors to alert more people.
He said the situation was chaotic - people shouting for help and residents fleeing their homes barefoot. PC Liu was hospitalised for two nights with smoke inhalation and, although he has resumed duty, still goes for follow-up treatment. Luckily, no one apart from himself and a seven-year-old girl on the seventh floor needed hospitalisation.
"The experience was very valuable. In future, I will make sure I soak my uniform and use it to cover my nose to avoid smoke inhalation," he said.
His brave act was commended by many people, including Fu Heng Estate's housing manager. He also received flowers while in hospital from people who read about his gallant act in the press.
At about 5.40 am on April 24, PCs Fung Chi-ming and Ho Wai-ting of Yuen Long Divsion's Patrol Sub-unit Four, were walking near On Ning Road when they heard cries for help and found a first floor flat on fire. "We saw smoke coming from a flat's door and forced it open," PC Fung said, adding that with no door-breaking equipment they had to kick it in. "Together we kicked the door about 50 times before it opened. We then saw the whole place engulfed in flames and found a woman in the sitting room and immediately went inside and helped her out. Then we got inside the bathroom and led a man out."
As PC Fung re-entered the flat for a second check for anyone trapped, PC Ho banged flat doors floor by floor to alert residents. The pair led more than 50 people to safety by the time fire officers arrived.
PC Ho said it was the Force training which enabled them to stay calm in the face of such danger.