Hong Kong’s deadliest blaze in decades was unlikely to have been caused solely by the flammability of the bamboo scaffolding but was likely compounded by a combination of factors, including cheap fire-retardant netting, according to fire experts who commented on the blaze today.
“The fire spread at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex is likely due to a combination of factors, including the plastic scaffolding encapsulation, plastic sheeting, polystyrene, the bamboo structural scaffolding, and any other flammable components,” according to Alex Webb, a fire safety engineer at Australia’s CSIRO. who spoke to the UK-based Independent.
As reported by Reuters, at least 55 people have so far died, with hundreds remaining missing after flames tore through the Wang Fuk Court, a 2,000-unit housing estate in Tai Po, New Territories – a complex that houses about 4,600 residents.
Video footage captured flames racing across green safety netting and bamboo frames collapsing in sheets of fire. Police told local media that early findings point to the protective mesh and plastic coverings, which may not meet fire standards. They also discovered foam material sealing windows on one unaffected tower, installed by a contractor engaged in year‑long maintenance.
Kristof Crolla, associate professor at the University of Hong Kong’s Department of Architecture, said he was shocked at the speed of the blaze. “Hong Kong has over 7,500 towers, and most have been built with bamboo scaffolding, and we never see fires like this,” he told the ABC. Bamboo, he added, is far harder to ignite than many assume. “Bamboo doesn’t burn as easily as wood; it’s very hard to ignite, so probably some other materials triggered the blaze,” Professor Crolla added.
Bamboo scaffolding has long been used in Hong Kong’s skyline — cheap, flexible, and tied together with nylon cords. The technique originated in mainland China, where bamboo was once central to construction, even reputedly used in the construction of the Great Wall. And whilst China has largely shifted to metal scaffolding and clamps, Hong Kong still has about 2,500 licensed bamboo masters, with teams of bamboo workers clinging to glass facades in the city.
The lattices are often paired with green mesh to prevent falling debris, as was the case at Wang Fuk Court. Hong Kong’s leader, John Lee, said a task force had been established to probe the disaster. Police have arrested two company directors and an engineering consultant on suspicion of manslaughter.
Lee pledged immediate checks on ongoing projects to ensure scaffolding materials meet fire‑retardant standards. In March, authorities announced that half of all new public works contracts would require metal scaffolding, though the focus was primarily on worker safety rather than fire hazards. Between 2019 and 2024, 22 bamboo scaffolders died in workplace accidents, according to official data.
Despite concerns, Labour Secretary Chris Sun said in July that “the government has no intention to ban the use of bamboo scaffolds at the moment.” The Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims noted in a Facebook post that at least two other fires involving bamboo scaffolding had occurred this year.
The Labour Department’s Code of Practice states that nets, screens, and tarpaulins used on scaffolding “should have appropriate fire retardant properties in compliance with a recognised standard.” Whilst Jason Poon, a whistleblower who has previously exposed poor construction practices in Hong Kong, said fire risks remain at many housing estates.
