HONG KONG: THE FACTS
Fire Services
The Fire Services Department is an emergency service responsible for fire-fighting 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.
Organisation: The Department has 8 998 uniformed and 642 civilian members. It is organised into seven commands － three Operational Commands, a Licensing and Certification Command, a Fire Safety Command, an Ambulance Command and a Headquarters Command; and an Administration Division. Commanding the Department is the Director of Fire Services.
Fire and Special Services: Fire-fighting, 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. In 2010, they responded to 40 604 fire calls and 26 859 special service calls.
In 2010, accidents involving the preparation of foodstuff contributed to the major cause of fires, followed by careless handling or disposal of cigarette ends, matches and candles and electrical faults. Fires claimed 11 lives and 276 injuries.
Special service calls cover a wide range of incidents, including traffic and industrial accidents, gas leakages, landslides, flooding, house collapses, attempts by people to jump from height and malfunctioning lifts.
The Department has 569 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 21 fireboats and support vessels provides fire protection and rescue services within Hong Kong waters.
Ambulance Services: The Ambulance Command operates 266 ambulances, four mobile casualty treatment centres, 35 paramedic motorcycles and three rapid response vehicles. All ambulances and motorcycles are equipped with paramedic facilities.
In 2010, the Command responded to 687 133 calls, conveying a total of 619 101 patients or casualties to hospitals/clinics, or an average of 1 882 calls a day.
To enhance the emergency ambulance services in the long run, the Administration has planned to implement a Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) in Hong Kong. A public consultation was conducted in 2009. According to results of the consultation, about 70% of the public supported the MPDS. In April 2010, the Legislative Council Panel on Security was briefed on the results. The views and comments of the Panel and the public will be taken into careful consideration when the Administration explores the way forward and relevant details of the long term plan.
Frontline 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 now available in all fire stations throughout the territory. In 2010, first responders turned out to 49 451 cases.
Communications: The Fire Services Communications Centre (FSCC) is equipped with a computerised mobilising system for the efficient and effective mobilising of fire-fighting and ambulance resources for fires and emergencies. It is linked to all fire stations, ambulance depots and fireboat stations for despatch of resources.
The FSCC, manned round the clock, also caters for receipt of complaints and enquiries of fire hazards and dangerous goods. During major incidents, it acts as a co-ordinator for Government departments and public utilities. The FSCC has five Mobile Command Units which serve as on-scene command and control centres in major incidents.
The FSCC has adopted a sophisticated telecommunication and computer integrated mobilising system － the Third Generation Mobilising System － to improve the efficiency of fire-fighting and rescue operations by enhancing the identification, location and mobilisation of resources.
The Department will fully replace the existing analogue trunked radio communication system with the digital one to enhance the voice quality and communication capabilities. The new radio communication system is expected to be commissioned in mid 2011.
Licensing and Certification: The Licensing and Certification Command enforces fire safety regulations and policies, and processes the registration of fire service installation contractors.
The Policy Division formulates procedural instructions and guidelines on fire protection matters, researches and approves fire service installations, portable fire-fighting equipment and gas cylinders. It also handles legal and prosecution matters.
The Dangerous Goods Division is responsible for the licensing of dangerous goods stores and vehicles, and timber stores.
The Fire Service Installations Task Force inspects fire service installations in buildings; handles complaints regarding building fire service installations and monitors the performance of registered fire service installations contractors.
The Fire Service Installations Division and Ventilation Division are responsible for inspecting fire service installations and ventilating systems in buildings respectively.
The two regional offices － the Hong Kong and Kowloon West and the New Territories and Kowloon East － are responsible for advising other Government
