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Hong Kong Fire Services Department
The Hong Kong Fire Services Department is an emergency service responsible for firefighting and rescue on land and sea. It also provides an emergency ambulance service for the sick and the injured and gives fire protection advice to the public. It is under the Secretary for Security who heads the Security Bureau.
The history of the Hong Kong Fire Service began in the Government Gazette dated 9 May 1868. Charles May became the first Superintendent of the Fire Brigade. At the time, the Fire Department was part of the Hong Kong Police Force. It had a total strength of 62 with a supplement of 100 Chinese volunteers. The fire department expanded to 140 members during the 1920s.
During the Japanese Occupation during World War II, the service was disbanded. Its two fire engines were exported to Tokyo to become part of the Imperial Palace Fire Unit, and were returned after the war.
Hong Kong's ambulance service is part of the Fire Department. Previously, emergency ambulance service was provided by the Fire Service while non-emergency ambulance service was handled by the Medical Corps. In 1950, the Auxiliary Fire Service Unit was created to establish the Hong Kong Auxiliary Fire Brigade to provide additional manpower to regular fire brigade members under the Essential Services (Auxiliary Fire Service) Corps Regulations.
In 1953, all Medical Corps vehicles and crew were transferred to the Fire Service. Thus, leading to the creation to the present Ambulance Command. Over the past 70 years it has grown to accommodate 42 ambulance depots, 240 ambulances, 35 motorcycles and 2,350 uniformed staff.
The department has 11,476 (10,690 uniformed and 786 civilian) members as of 2024. It is organised into 9 commands and one support branch. Operations are split into four geographic commands, an Ambulance Command and a Operational Support Command. These are supported by the Licensing and Certification Command, Fire Safety Command and the Corporate Strategy Command as well as an Administration Branch. Commanding the department is the Director of Fire Services.
Firefighting, rescue and other emergency services are undertaken by the three operational commands － Hong Kong (including marine and off-shore islands), Kowloon and the New Territories. There are 84 fire stations across Hong Kong's three operational commands. In 2004, they responded to 35,092 fire calls and 20,059 special service calls. This had risen to 37,828 fire calls and 39,320 special service calls in 2024. Careless handling or disposal of cigarette butts, matches and candles remained the major causes of fires, followed by incidents involving the preparation of food and electrical faults. Fires claimed nine lives and left 451injured in 2004. Of the injured, 46 were Fire Services personnel. Special service calls cover a wide range of incidents, including traffic and industrial accidents, gas leakages, landslides, flooding, house collapses, suicide attempts and malfunctioning lifts. In 2004, 717 people died and 1,995 others were injured in such incidents. One of the dead and 16 of the injured were Fire Services personnel. The department has 835 operational appliances and vehicles fitted with up-to-date fire-fighting and rescue equipment. The first-line appliances, basically comprising major pumps, hydraulic platforms, light rescue units and turntable ladders/snorkels, are supported where necessary by other special appliances/equipment. A fleet of 12 fireboats, including two command boats, 1 diving support vessel and two diving support speedboats provide fire protection and rescue services within Hong Kong.
The Ambulance Command operates from 42 depots with 2,350 uniformed staff. The services fleet consists of 536 vehicles, including four village ambulances, four mobile casualty treatment centres and paramedic motorcycles. All motorcycles and ambulances are equipped with paramedic facilities to provide paramedic care. In 2024, the Command responded to 823,655 calls, attending to a total of 521,127 patients or casualties to hospitals/clinics, or an average of 1,575 calls a day. There were 106 cases of ambulance personnel sustaining injury whilst on active duty in 2004. Front-line firemen are also trained as first-responders to provide basic life support to casualties and patients before the arrival of an ambulance crew. First-responders are available in all fire stations.
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Hong Kong Fire Services Department
The Hong Kong Fire Services Department is an emergency service responsible for firefighting and rescue on land and sea. It also provides an emergency ambulance service for the sick and the injured and gives fire protection advice to the public. It is under the Secretary for Security who heads the Security Bureau.
The history of the Hong Kong Fire Service began in the Government Gazette dated 9 May 1868. Charles May became the first Superintendent of the Fire Brigade. At the time, the Fire Department was part of the Hong Kong Police Force. It had a total strength of 62 with a supplement of 100 Chinese volunteers. The fire department expanded to 140 members during the 1920s.
During the Japanese Occupation during World War II, the service was disbanded. Its two fire engines were exported to Tokyo to become part of the Imperial Palace Fire Unit, and were returned after the war.
Hong Kong's ambulance service is part of the Fire Department. Previously, emergency ambulance service was provided by the Fire Service while non-emergency ambulance service was handled by the Medical Corps. In 1950, the Auxiliary Fire Service Unit was created to establish the Hong Kong Auxiliary Fire Brigade to provide additional manpower to regular fire brigade members under the Essential Services (Auxiliary Fire Service) Corps Regulations.
In 1953, all Medical Corps vehicles and crew were transferred to the Fire Service. Thus, leading to the creation to the present Ambulance Command. Over the past 70 years it has grown to accommodate 42 ambulance depots, 240 ambulances, 35 motorcycles and 2,350 uniformed staff.
The department has 11,476 (10,690 uniformed and 786 civilian) members as of 2024. It is organised into 9 commands and one support branch. Operations are split into four geographic commands, an Ambulance Command and a Operational Support Command. These are supported by the Licensing and Certification Command, Fire Safety Command and the Corporate Strategy Command as well as an Administration Branch. Commanding the department is the Director of Fire Services.
Firefighting, rescue and other emergency services are undertaken by the three operational commands － Hong Kong (including marine and off-shore islands), Kowloon and the New Territories. There are 84 fire stations across Hong Kong's three operational commands. In 2004, they responded to 35,092 fire calls and 20,059 special service calls. This had risen to 37,828 fire calls and 39,320 special service calls in 2024. Careless handling or disposal of cigarette butts, matches and candles remained the major causes of fires, followed by incidents involving the preparation of food and electrical faults. Fires claimed nine lives and left 451injured in 2004. Of the injured, 46 were Fire Services personnel. Special service calls cover a wide range of incidents, including traffic and industrial accidents, gas leakages, landslides, flooding, house collapses, suicide attempts and malfunctioning lifts. In 2004, 717 people died and 1,995 others were injured in such incidents. One of the dead and 16 of the injured were Fire Services personnel. The department has 835 operational appliances and vehicles fitted with up-to-date fire-fighting and rescue equipment. The first-line appliances, basically comprising major pumps, hydraulic platforms, light rescue units and turntable ladders/snorkels, are supported where necessary by other special appliances/equipment. A fleet of 12 fireboats, including two command boats, 1 diving support vessel and two diving support speedboats provide fire protection and rescue services within Hong Kong.
The Ambulance Command operates from 42 depots with 2,350 uniformed staff. The services fleet consists of 536 vehicles, including four village ambulances, four mobile casualty treatment centres and paramedic motorcycles. All motorcycles and ambulances are equipped with paramedic facilities to provide paramedic care. In 2024, the Command responded to 823,655 calls, attending to a total of 521,127 patients or casualties to hospitals/clinics, or an average of 1,575 calls a day. There were 106 cases of ambulance personnel sustaining injury whilst on active duty in 2004. Front-line firemen are also trained as first-responders to provide basic life support to casualties and patients before the arrival of an ambulance crew. First-responders are available in all fire stations.
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