A fire broke out last Saturday (January 28) in an electronic parts warehouse on the 9th floor of the Yongxian Factory Building in San Po Kong. The fire then escalated violently to a third-level fire. After burning for 15 hours, it was finally extinguished.
The Love 21 Service Center, a charity organization adjacent to the unit where the fire broke out, was also affected by the fire and burned down.
The person in charge lamented that three and a half years of painstaking efforts were lost in the fire. With the loss of activity and learning venues, more than 300 families have been affected, and now they hope to resume services within 3 months.
A reporter from "Hong Kong 01" went to the scene today (2nd) to find out that as soon as he entered the unit, he could see the institution's signboard hanging at the entrance, walls and ceilings were seriously blackened; The group photos were covered in thick black dust.
The wires were hanging in the air, the ground was covered with debris and water, and even though the windows were opened to let the air circulate, there was still a burning smell from the scene.
Love 21 Operations Director Carmel and Project Manager Kenneth returned to the center today (2nd) together with the cleaners to clean up and clean up. The loss is estimated to exceed 6 figures.
Love 21 Operations Director Carmel (right) and Project Manager Kenneth (left) returned to the center today (2nd) with the cleaners to tidy up and clean.
(Photo by Huang Xuerun)
Love 21 was established in 2016. It mainly serves people with Down syndrome and autism and families with special needs. The age of members is between 7 and 44 years old.
In 2019, Love 21 rented a unit on the 9th floor of Wing Hin Factory Building in San Po Kong as a service center. There is a dance room, a sports room and an activity room for ball games and fitness equipment, so most of the activities are carried out in the center.
Kenneth received a police notification at 8:00 am on the day of the fire, saying that there was a fire in the Yongxian factory building, and he was notified to come to the scene to understand.
He arrived at the downstairs of the building about an hour later, but the fire still continued, and the building was not unsealed for the time being, so he immediately notified the members to cancel the event that day.
There was a whiteboard in the unit that was filled with the original activity procedures on the day of the fire. When Carmel learned of the fire in the building, he was very worried, worrying that staff and members would be injured.
Fortunately, no staff came to work at that time, and no member returned to the center. Everyone was safe and sound, so she was relieved. However, the damage to the members' paintings and the subsequent maintenance of the center also made her worried.
The whiteboard is filled with the original activity flow on the day when the fire alarm occurred.
(Photo by Huang Xuerun)
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The unit was damaged in multiple places and the estimated loss is more than 6 figures
Kenneth pointed out that on Monday (January 31), some colleagues were notified by the police that they could return to the unit for inspection.
When he saw that all his hard work in the past three and a half years was burned, his first reaction could only be "wow".
Although he knew that the center was close to the fire unit, he still couldn't imagine the damage, and admitted that he couldn't react at the time.
With a heavy sigh, he recalled that "(personally) seems to be fixed", "I didn't know how to react when I came in".
Kenneth admitted frankly that he couldn't react on the first day back to the unit.
(Photo by Huang Xuerun)
He recalled that the unit was flooded at the time, the water level was about 1 cm high, and water droplets were dripping from the ceiling.
After entering the unit, he smelled a strong burning smell, and he immediately opened the window for ventilation.
Since the building has no electricity supply, they can only turn on the lights by themselves.
Fortunately, the family members of the interns are engaged in building management. After knowing the situation, they cleaned up the stagnant water and assisted in the cleaning for free.
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Kenneth mentioned that when he first came to the unit about 3 and a half years ago, it was empty inside, and everything was designed, decorated and operated by him and the founder of the center, Jeff.
At present, most of the objects, walls and ceilings have been blackened, and some of them cannot even see their original appearance.
Kenneth pointed out that some of the fitness equipment can still be used, mainly due to the damage to the computer, audio equipment and equipment. Together with the decoration, it is estimated that the loss will exceed 6 figures.
Seeing the ruins in front of him, everything had to start all over again.
During the interview, Carmel kept frowning, with tears in her eyes, and bluntly said that when she first returned to the unit: "I cried (I cried)", she was worried that all the members would be sad and afraid because of the fire.
Carmel described the incident as a "terrible tragedy" (Terrible tragedy), and pointed out that although the loss was a lot this time, the more important thing was the loss of a place for members to develop their strengths, learn new things, and parents to support each other. "300 It takes a lot from 300 families”
Carmel kept frowning, tears welling up in his eyes.
(Photo by Huang Xuerun)
It can be seen at the scene that there are fire hoses and fire extinguishers in the unit. Kenneth pointed out that in addition to the annual inspection by the owners, they will check and arrange the installation of safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers and emergency lighting.
He pointed out that in November last year, a building management company conducted a fire test, including whether the fire alarm was functioning normally.
The unit is currently covered with black water. Kenneth estimates that it will take 2 to 3 months to reopen the center.
As for the future development, it still needs to be discussed with the owner, and the compensation has been consulted with the insurance company, the owner and the management company, and it will be discussed with the owner in a few days.
He pointed out that the first priority for the time being is to find places where activities can be held, such as dance rooms, fitness centers, sports centers, etc., and the goal is to resume services within 3 months.
Kenneth pointed out that enthusiastic people have provided venues for them to hold activities yesterday, and hope that in the next one to two weeks, more activities can be re-organized for members.
Today (2nd) the outer scaffolding of Yongxian Industrial Building has been replaced.
(Photo by Huang Xuerun)
No. 3 fire in San Po Kong｜The environment of the fire site was exposed and the recording studio equipment downstairs was soaked. Sze Mei Street was unsealed. No. 3 fire in Gangang｜Manual alarm system failed to operate normally. Fire consultants analyzed two major crises. No. 3 fire in San Po Kong｜Electronic parts warehouse burned for 15 hours and finally put out. At least one person was sent to the hospital in the middle of the fire with thick smoke. San Po Kong No. 3 fire｜Industrial buildings were unsealed one after another. Tenants went upstairs to collect photographic equipment. Fortunately, no one was injured. No one was injured. bus lanes to be diverted
