18 -21 August 2026
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC)
2026 Conference Program
Residential Towers Fire
20 Aug 2026
IFE Australia | Meeting Room 211
On 26 November 2025, a fire broke out in a 31-storey residential tower under renovation in Tai Po, Hong Kong. The fire rapidly engulfed the entire building and then spread to nearby towers, all of which were also undergoing renovation at the time. Out of the eight towers in the estate, seven were affected by the blaze. Firefighters from the Hong Kong Fire Services Department battled the inferno for 43 hours before finally extinguishing it. Tragically, the fire resulted in the loss of 168 lives, including one firefighter, and left 79 others injured.
This presentation provides a comprehensive overview of the cause and sequence of events that led to the calamity. The speaker, a veteran fire officer with 32 years of experience, will guide the audience through a detailed analysis of how the fire started and spread, as well as the specific challenges encountered during firefighting and rescue efforts.