Hong Kong Firefighters Battle 20-Hour Hill Blaze on Lantau Island

TAI O, Hong Kong — A massive hill fire that raged for 20 hours on Lantau Island was brought under control Monday afternoon, according to Hong Kong’s Fire Services Department. The blaze, which began Sunday at 4:51 p.m., engulfed two fire lines measuring 100 meters and 50 meters before being contained at 12:30 p.m. the following day.

Firefighters deployed fire beaters, knapsack pumps, and water bombs dropped by the Government Flying Service to combat the flames. The operation marked a significant effort to prevent the fire from spreading further across the island’s rugged terrain.

This incident followed another wildfire in Yuen Long’s Kai Kung Leng mountain range, which was extinguished Sunday afternoon after burning for nearly 21 hours. That fire, first reported at 5:31 p.m. on Saturday, trapped two hikers who were later rescued. Firefighters battled the blaze across two zones, measuring 20 by 20 meters and 5 by 5 meters, using similar tactics, including helicopter water drops.

Hong Kong’s Fire Services Department emphasized the challenges posed by the region’s dry vegetation and steep hillsides. “The terrain made access difficult, but our teams worked tirelessly to bring the situation under control,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

No injuries or structural damage were reported in either incident, but authorities urged residents and hikers to remain vigilant during the dry season, which increases the risk of wildfires.