It has rightly been said that firefighters run toward what others fear, and that this is bravery in its purest form.

The Hong Kong Fire Services Department (FSD) provides emergency and rescue services for the public on land and sea (including ambulance services) and tackles fires. Its predecessor, the Fire Brigade, was founded in 1868 and commanded by Superintendent Charles May as part of the Hong Kong Police Force. Whereas its original strength was 62 (supplemented by 100 volunteers), this had risen to 11,476 (10,690 uniformed and 786 civilian) by 2024.

The FSD’s officers are highly trained and utterly committed to the saving of lives. They consistently display bravery, often over and above the call of duty. They regularly place their own lives in danger, a real worry for their loved ones. Even though they are provided with state-of-the-art equipment, the psychological toll can be exacting, and even the bravest of the brave can find it hard to cope with the suffering of those they help.

However, they do not always receive the recognition they deserve, and it should never be suggested that “they are only doing their jobs”.

Once a fire breaks out, speed is of the essence. The FSD’s graded response time for building-fire calls is six minutes and nine to 23 minutes for areas of dispersed risks and isolated developments. For emergency ambulance calls, the target response time is 12 minutes. The FSD is pledged to the target times of 92.5 percent for building-fire calls in built-up areas and for emergency ambulance calls, and to 94.5 percent for building-fire calls in areas of dispersed risks and isolated developments.

It was a tragedy that one fireman, Ho Wai-ho, lost his life after sustaining serious injuries during the fire. Everybody owes him a debt of gratitude, and his loss will have devastated his family and colleagues. The FSD praised his “professional competence”, and his death is a reminder to everybody of the sacrifices the firefighters are prepared to make on behalf of others

In 2024, the fire and special services responded to 37,828 fire calls and 39,320 special service calls (including house collapses, flooding and malfunctioning elevators). Whereas fires claimed 33 lives, they also injured 449 individuals. Although the FSD’s officers conducted themselves with great professionalism on every occasion, nothing could prepare them for the situation they would confront in Tai Po on Nov 26.

After the fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court, where eight blocks were undergoing renovation, the FSD faced unprecedented challenges. Summoned from fire stations across Hong Kong, the 2,311 firefighters and rescue workers were tested like never before. Within minutes of the fire being reported, the fire alarm was raised from No 3 to No 5, and seven buildings were engulfed in flames, creating mayhem.

According to the FSD director, Andy Yeung Yan-kin, “Once we ascertained anyone trapped was in great peril, we swooped in right away to rescue them.” By the time the No 5 alarm was raised, Yeung already had about 600 firefighters covering the seven burning buildings, with 70 to 80 officers assigned to each (the maximum number, given space constraints and the need to maintain escape routes).

The firefighters confronted horrifying scenarios. The temperatures inside sometimes reached 700 C, even affecting the officers’ apparel, boots and equipment. Visibility was often minimal, and split-second decisions had to be made about how best to help the victims. It must have been hell on earth, but the officers did what they were trained to do, saving lives and alleviating suffering.

It was a tragedy that one fireman, Ho Wai-ho, lost his life after sustaining serious injuries during the fire. Everybody owes him a debt of gratitude, and his loss will have devastated his family and colleagues. The FSD praised his “professional competence”, and his death is a reminder to everybody of the sacrifices the firefighters are prepared to make on behalf of others.

It was fitting that in recognition of Ho’s exemplary service and selfless dedication to duty, he was posthumously given the honorary title of senior fireman. Although their grief will be profound, members of his family can take pride in his heroism and draw comfort from the regard his colleagues hold for him.

It is sometimes assumed that people who face great dangers, whether firefighters, soldiers or police officers, are able to “take things in their stride”, but this is by no means a given. However well-trained they are or battle-hardened, they can suffer emotional trauma like everybody else. They may, for example, have nightmares, be unable to relax, or suffer from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).

Many ordinary residents have been traumatized by the fire, as have first responders and medical personnel. Whereas Susanna Choy Shan-shan, a clinical psychologist from the Hong Kong Psychological Society, has estimated that about 10 percent of people might experience PTSD after large-scale incidents like the Tai Po fire, the chief executive, John Lee Ka-chiu, has noted that at one stage, the demand for psychological services was so strong that a single nongovernmental organization received 600 calls.

The chairman of the Advisory Committee on Mental Health, Lam Ching-choi, has indicated that professionals are being sent to offer mental health support services at transitional housing projects where people affected by the fire are staying. He explained, “They could be psychologically challenged, pressured, anxious or even depressed,” and the same might also be said of at least some of the firefighters.

The FSD will therefore wish to ensure that the full range of counseling and psychological support services is available to all its front-line officers. If any of them have been particularly affected by their experiences, they will need to be encouraged to seek help, given that there is nothing worse than people bottling things up. As they come to terms with what they have undergone, they must also know that everybody has their backs and that their futures are secure. After all, heroes deserve no less.

Indeed, Yeung can take great pride in his officers’ bravery in going the extra mile to help their fellow residents, which reflects well on his entire leadership team. But for their efforts, the death toll (160) would undoubtedly have been far higher. If the heroism of the firefighters is officially acknowledged in due course, it will be widely applauded — but it will be no less than they deserve.

The author is a senior counsel and law professor, and was previously the director of public prosecutions of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.