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
The Secretary for Security is the member of the Government of Hong Kong in charge of the Security Bureau, which is responsible for public safety, security, and immigration matters.
The post was created in 1973 and since the Principal Offic ...
who heads the
Security Bureau.
History
The history of the Hong Kong Fire Service began in the
Government Gazette
A government gazette (also known as an official gazette, official journal, official newspaper, official monitor or official bulletin) is a periodical publication that has been authorised to publish public or legal notices. It is usually establi ...
dated 9 May 1868.
Charles May became the first Superintendent of the Fire Brigade. At the time, the
Fire Department
A fire department (American English) or fire brigade (Commonwealth English), also known as a fire authority, fire district, fire and rescue, or fire service in some areas, is an organization that provides fire prevention and fire suppression se ...
was part of the
Hong Kong Police Force
The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) is the primary law enforcement, investigative agency, and largest disciplined service under the Security Bureau of Hong Kong. The Royal Hong Kong Police Force (RHKPF) reverted to its former name after the t ...
. 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 the
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
, the Service disbanded. The two
fire engines were exported to
Tokyo
Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.46 ...
to become part of the Imperial Palace Fire Unit. It was only returned after the War.
Unlike Canada, UK and some countries, Hong Kong's ambulance service is tied directly with the
Fire Department
A fire department (American English) or fire brigade (Commonwealth English), also known as a fire authority, fire district, fire and rescue, or fire service in some areas, is an organization that provides fire prevention and fire suppression se ...
. At that time all emergency ambulance service was provided by the Fire Service while non-emergency was handled by the
Medical Corps
A medical corps is generally a military branch or officer corps responsible for medical care for serving military personnel. Such officers are typically military physicians.
List of medical corps
The following organizations are examples of medica ...
. 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, this policy was changed and 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 50 years it has grown to accommodate 30 ambulance depots, 240 ambulances, 35 motorcycles and 2,350 uniformed staff.
Overview
The department has 9,351 (8,675 uniformed and 676 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. They are supported by an Administration Division. Commanding the department is the Director of Fire Services.
Organisational structure
Fire and special services
![HK HKFireServices HQ Bldg Entrance](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cf/HK_HKFireServices_HQ_Bldg_Entrance.JPG)
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. There are 81
fire stations across Hong Kong's 3 operational commands. In 2004, they responded to 35,092 fire calls and 20,059 special service calls. Careless handling or disposal of cigarette ends, 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 451 injuries 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, attempts by people to jump from a height 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 eight fireboats, including two command boats, one diving support vessel and two diving support speedboats provide fire protection and rescue services within Hong Kong
Ambulance services
![MCTC_F581_Hong_Kong](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/MCTC_F581_Hong_Kong.JPG)
The
Ambulance
An ambulance is a medically equipped vehicle which transports patients to treatment facilities, such as hospitals. Typically, out-of-hospital medical care is provided to the patient during the transport.
Ambulances are used to respond to med ...
Command operates from 38 depots with 2,350 uniformed staff. The services fleet consists of 268 ambulances, four village ambulances, four mobile casualty treatment centres and 35 paramedic motorcycles. All motorcycles and ambulances are equipped with paramedic facilities to provide paramedic care. In 2004, the Command responded to 574,901 calls, conveying 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. So far, first-responders are available in 81 fire stations.
Communications
The Fire Services Communication 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 dispatch of resources. The FSCC, staffed around 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 Third Generation Mobilising System came into operation in phases starting in the first quarter of 2005. The system's objective is to further enhance the capability and efficiency in mobilisation and communications to meet anticipated growth of emergency calls over the next decade.
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 deals mainly with the formulation of guidelines on fire protection matters, prosecutions, research and approval of portable fire-fighting equipment and gas cylinders. The Dangerous Goods Division is responsible for the licensing of dangerous goods stores and vehicles, and timber stores. 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 authorities on the fire safety measures for the purposes of licensing/registering various types of premises. Officers of the Command are seconded to the Home Affairs Department to inspect hotels, guesthouses, private clubs and
bedspace apartments, and formulate fire safety requirements on these premises; whereas some are seconded to the Social Welfare Department to advise on fire protection measures in residential care homes for the elderly.
Fire safety
The Fire Safety Command assists and advises the public on fire protection measures with the aim of enhancing their fire safety awareness. The Community Relations Division is responsible for promoting fire safety and co-ordinating with other government departments and District Fire Safety Committees in stepping up fire prevention publicity. To promote fire safety awareness at district levels, the Division works closely with local fire stations in organising fire safety talks, seminars, exhibitions, fire drills and training of Fire Safety Ambassadors, who are volunteers from various sectors of the community to raise awareness of fire safety. The Commercial Buildings and Premises Division enforces the Fire Safety (Commercial Premises) Ordinance for upgrading fire safety measures in prescribed commercial premises (i.e. supermarkets, department stores, shopping arcades, banks, jewelry or goldsmith premises and off-course betting centres) and specified commercial buildings (i.e. commercial buildings constructed or the plans of building works of which first submitted to the Building Authority for approval on or before 1 March 1987). A Building Safety Loan Scheme has also been established to provide financial assistance to owners of such premises and buildings to upgrade the fire safety measures where necessary. Pending implementation of the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance, the Building Improvement and Support Division continues to inspect old private composite and domestic buildings with a view to enhancing fire safety and advising owners and occupiers concerned on the improved standards to be required. The Fire Service Installation Task Force inspects fire service installations in buildings, handles complaints regarding building fire service installations and monitors the performance of registered fire service installation contractors. The Railway Development Strategy Division scrutinises fire safety strategies and processes building plans of new railway infrastructure projects. It also carries out acceptance tests of fire service installations on completion of those projects. The Theme Park Projects Division formulates fire safety requirements for buildings and other supporting infrastructures in the Hong Kong Disneyland theme park in Penny's Bay. It also carries out acceptance tests on fire service installations upon completion of these works.
Administration and logistic support
The Headquarters Command offers policy, planning, management and logistic support to the operational commands. It also oversees the operation of Fire Services Communication Centre, Airport Fire Contingent, Fire Services Training School, recruitment and examination, workshops and transport, stores and supplies, diving service, physical training, information and publicity matters, staff welfare and statistics. The Administration Division, staffed by civilians, deals with departmental establishment, personnel, finance, appointments, general matters, staff relations, audit and translation service.
Airport fire contingent
The primary role of the contingent is to provide rescue and fire fighting coverage for
Hong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong International Airport is Hong Kong's main airport, built on reclaimed land on the island of Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong. The airport is also referred to as Chek Lap Kok International Airport or ''Chek Lap Kok Airport'', to distingui ...
. The contingent, which comprises two fire stations (one next to DHL Asia Hub and one next to the Air Traffic Control Tower) and two sea rescue berths (east and west ends of Chep Lap Kok) at strategic locations on the airport platform, is equipped with 14 fire appliances, two command boats and eight speedboats.
Diving services
The Diving Unit has a fleet of five diving tenders, one diving support vessel and two diving support speedboats deployed at seven strategic locations throughout Hong Kong, and a three-compartment compression chamber at Stonecutter's Island for treating patients with decompression illness and requiring hyperbaric oxygen treatment. It comprises about 150 active divers responsible for maritime search and rescue within Hong Kong waters down to the maximum depth of 42 metres using compressed air diving equipment and underwater breaking-in tools.
Training
Fire Services Training School (FSTS) provides initial training for recruit fire and ambulance personnel. It also provides refresher and advanced training courses for all fire personnel. Fire Services Ambulance Command Training School (FSACTS) provides initial and paramedic training to recruits and ambulance personnel. It also provides Advanced Ambulance Aid Training at first-responder level to serving fire personnel. The duration of various courses ranges from one day to 26 weeks. The fire and ambulance recruits who have successfully completed the initial training courses will be posted to fire stations and ambulance depots respectively to continue their on-the-job training in order to gain field experience. Apart from providing training for staff of other government departments, private organisations and overseas fire officers, FSTS also runs Youth Pre-employment Training Programmes and Smart Teen Challenge Camps for youngsters jointly with the Labour Department and the Education and Manpower Bureau respectively. FSACTS also provides initial and refresher training on cardio-pulmonary resuscitation to members of the public. In addition to overseas training on latest fire services technology and management skills, officers and instructors also attend various advanced courses conducted by overseas fire professionals in Hong Kong.
Workshops
The Workshops Division is responsible for all engineering matters relating to fire appliances, fire-fighting and rescue equipment. These include design, development, procurement, inspection and maintenance, fitting out, modification, testing and commissioning.
Response times
There are altogether 81 fire stations, 37 ambulance depots and six fireboat stations. They are strategically located to provide an emergency response for all areas. The graded response times for building fire calls are six minutes for built-up areas and nine to 23 minutes for areas of dispersed risks and isolated developments. For emergency ambulance services, the target response time is 12 minutes. The performance target is to achieve these response times in 92.5% of all calls. In 2004, 94.06% of building fire calls and 91.08% of emergency ambulance calls were responded to within the respective target response times.
Public liaison group
The group which comprises 30 members of the public from all walks of life monitors and improves the delivery of the department's public services. It helps foster better understanding between the public and the department.
Equipment
![F HLF F430 PLMMP@1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/F_HLF_F430_PLMMP%401.jpg)
The
Fire Services Department of Hong Kong is a force of 8,000-plus firefighters serving one of the most densely populated urban areas in the world. They served under the British before 1997 and are equipped much like their counterparts in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...
.
While most cities' high-rise buildings are concentrated in their commercial areas in the central business districts, they are ubiquitous in Hong Kong. Most residential buildings in this very crowded Asian metropolis are more than twenty storeys tall, with some reaching forty or fifty storeys and the tallest over seventy.
Thanks to strict fire code and the use of non-flammable materials, severe structural fires are rare. The
Fire Services Department is nonetheless equipped with a significant quantity of hydraulic platforms and possesses some of the tallest ladder platforms in the world.
![F MTW F6501@1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/F_MTW_F6501%401.jpg)
Common fire engines in Hong Kong include:
*Hydraulic Platforms: Carry out firefighting and rescue at elevated levels - similar of snorkel, aerial tower or cherry pickers used in
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and th ...
*Major Pumpers: Basically Type B Water Tenders that provide water supply - called pumpers in
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and th ...
*Turntable Ladder: Similar to Hydraulic Platforms but they use telescopic ladders instead of hydraulic platforms and are better suited for high level rescue - called aerial in
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and th ...
*Light Rescue Units: First-strike fire appliances, equipped with varieties of rescue equipments
*Major Rescue Units: Also serve as light rescue units but are capable of special missions when teamed up with the rescue tenders
*
Mobile Command Units: Field command centre
*Rescue Tenders: Perform rescue missions in major disasters
*Hazmat Tenders: Hazardous materials handling
*Hazmat Pods: Equipped with radioactivity detectors, protective aprons and decontaminating tools, Hazmat Pods are used in nuclear/biohazardous incidents.
*Lighting Tenders: Provide lighting
*Hose Layer: Carry hoses for water relay
*Light Pumping Appliances: Perform pumping or rescue operations when area is inaccessible to major appliances
*Reserve Heavy Pumps: Conduct water relay and pumping in remote areas or major fires
*Snorkels: Perform rescue operations at 26–30 m.
*Aerial Ladder Platforms (ALP): Carry a telescopic ladder and capable of reaching 47–53 m
The following appliances are mainly deployed to the airport and stations close to fuel depots:
*First Intervention Vehicle: Carries foam and water and capable of discharging 6000 litres per minute
*Foam Tenders: Carry out oil fuel fire fighting with foam and foam concentrate transportation
*Bulk Foam Tender: Supply foam concentrate, pre-mixed foam solution for First Intervention Vehicle for prolonged fuel oil fire fighting
*Jackless Snorkel: Equipped with a piercing nozzle that can pierce through the fuselage of airplanes and discharge foam in cabin. The FSD introduced this to prepare for the commencement of the
Airbus A380
The Airbus A380 is a large wide-body airliner that was developed and produced by Airbus. It is the world's largest passenger airliner and only full-length double-deck jet airliner.
Airbus studies started in 1988, and the project was annou ...
.
![HKFSD Hazmat Tender F275](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/HKFSD_Hazmat_Tender_F275.JPG)
A list of vehicles used in the past and present:
*
AEC Turntable ladder
*
Austin
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most-populous city ...
LD3 ambulance
*
Ford Transit
The Ford Transit is a family of light commercial vehicles manufactured by the Ford Motor Company since 1965, primarily as a cargo van, but also available in other configurations including a large passenger van (marketed as the Ford Tourneo in ...
ambulance
*
Scania
Scania, also known by its native name of Skåne (, ), is the southernmost of the historical provinces (''landskap'') of Sweden. Located in the south tip of the geographical region of Götaland, the province is roughly conterminous with Skån ...
Hydraulic platform
*
Dennis
Dennis or Denis is a first or last name from the Greco-Roman name Dionysius, via one of the Christian saints named Dionysius.
The name came from Dionysus, the Greek god of ecstatic states, particularly those produced by wine, which is somet ...
pumper
*
ERF Turntable ladder
*
Scania
Scania, also known by its native name of Skåne (, ), is the southernmost of the historical provinces (''landskap'') of Sweden. Located in the south tip of the geographical region of Götaland, the province is roughly conterminous with Skån ...
Turntable ladder 52m
*
Magirus-Deutz
Magirus GmbH is a truck manufacturer based in Ulm, Germany, founded by Conrad Dietrich Magirus (1824–1895). It was formerly known as Klöckner Humboldt Deutz AG, maker of the Deutz engines, so the brand commonly used was Magirus Deutz, and fo ...
Turntable ladder 37/ 50 / 55 m
*
Iveco
IVECO, an acronym for Industrial Vehicles Corporation, is an Italian multinational transport vehicle manufacturing company. It designs and builds light, medium, and heavy commercial vehicles. The name IVECO first appeared in 1975 after a merger ...
Turntable ladder
*
MAN
A man is an adult male human. Prior to adulthood, a male human is referred to as a boy (a male child or adolescent). Like most other male mammals, a man's genome usually inherits an X chromosome from the mother and a Y chromo ...
Hazmat tender
*
MAN
A man is an adult male human. Prior to adulthood, a male human is referred to as a boy (a male child or adolescent). Like most other male mammals, a man's genome usually inherits an X chromosome from the mother and a Y chromo ...
Angloco foam tender
*
MAN
A man is an adult male human. Prior to adulthood, a male human is referred to as a boy (a male child or adolescent). Like most other male mammals, a man's genome usually inherits an X chromosome from the mother and a Y chromo ...
Command unit
*
Scania
Scania, also known by its native name of Skåne (, ), is the southernmost of the historical provinces (''landskap'') of Sweden. Located in the south tip of the geographical region of Götaland, the province is roughly conterminous with Skån ...
P94GB-300 Rescue tender
*
Scania
Scania, also known by its native name of Skåne (, ), is the southernmost of the historical provinces (''landskap'') of Sweden. Located in the south tip of the geographical region of Götaland, the province is roughly conterminous with Skån ...
P124GB-360 First intervention vehicle
*
Scania
Scania, also known by its native name of Skåne (, ), is the southernmost of the historical provinces (''landskap'') of Sweden. Located in the south tip of the geographical region of Götaland, the province is roughly conterminous with Skån ...
P124GB-360 Heavy Pump
*
Scania
Scania, also known by its native name of Skåne (, ), is the southernmost of the historical provinces (''landskap'') of Sweden. Located in the south tip of the geographical region of Götaland, the province is roughly conterminous with Skån ...
Jackless Snorkel – with Snozzle (Model S2000-CA)
*
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a light commercial vehicle (van) built by Mercedes-Benz Group AG of Stuttgart, Germany as a large van, chassis cab, minibus, and pickup truck. In the past, the Sprinter had been sold under the Mercedes-Benz, Dod ...
414 416CDI 518CDI ambulance - European Class C / American Type III
*
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz (), commonly referred to as Mercedes and sometimes as Benz, is a German luxury and commercial vehicle automotive brand established in 1926. Mercedes-Benz AG (a Mercedes-Benz Group subsidiary established in 2019) is headquarte ...
E-310 ambulances - European Class B
*
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz (), commonly referred to as Mercedes and sometimes as Benz, is a German luxury and commercial vehicle automotive brand established in 1926. Mercedes-Benz AG (a Mercedes-Benz Group subsidiary established in 2019) is headquarte ...
Sprinter 316CDI light ambulance - European Class C / American Type I
*
Suzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Minami-ku, Hamamatsu, Japan. Suzuki manufactures automobiles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal co ...
EDE51V village ambulance - European Class C / American Type I
*
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz (), commonly referred to as Mercedes and sometimes as Benz, is a German luxury and commercial vehicle automotive brand established in 1926. Mercedes-Benz AG (a Mercedes-Benz Group subsidiary established in 2019) is headquarte ...
1828L (F581) Mobile Casualty Treatment Centre
*
Dennis
Dennis or Denis is a first or last name from the Greco-Roman name Dionysius, via one of the Christian saints named Dionysius.
The name came from Dionysus, the Greek god of ecstatic states, particularly those produced by wine, which is somet ...
DFS237R4B Mobile Casualty Treatment Centre
*
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz (), commonly referred to as Mercedes and sometimes as Benz, is a German luxury and commercial vehicle automotive brand established in 1926. Mercedes-Benz AG (a Mercedes-Benz Group subsidiary established in 2019) is headquarte ...
1517L Mobile Casualty Treatment Centre
* Safe at Sea
RescueRunner
*
BMW R850RT motorcycle
*
BMW R900RT
The BMW R1200RT is a touring or sport touring motorcycle that was manufactured from 2005 to 2019 by BMW Motorrad to replace the R1150RT model. It features a flat-twin engine with a six-speed gearbox and shaft drive.
History Previous RT models, ...
motorcycle
*
Honda ST1300 Pan European motorcycle
*
Scania
Scania, also known by its native name of Skåne (, ), is the southernmost of the historical provinces (''landskap'') of Sweden. Located in the south tip of the geographical region of Götaland, the province is roughly conterminous with Skån ...
Snorkel (SS263)
*
Land Rover
Land Rover is a British brand of predominantly four-wheel drive, off-road capable vehicles, owned by multinational car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), since 2008 a subsidiary of India's Tata Motors. JLR currently builds Land Rove ...
130 Defender ambulance
*
Dennis Sabre pumper/engine
*
![HKFSD BMW R1200RT-P 20120604](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/HKFSD_BMW_R1200RT-P_20120604.jpg)
Dennis Rapier
The Dennis Rapier is a purpose-built fire engine produced by Dennis Specialist Vehicles of Guildford, Surrey, England from 1991 to the early 2000s.
Features
Regular production of the Rapier began in 1991, following a demonstrator unit being ...
*
![WIKINEWS 2010 3 03 005](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/WIKINEWS_2010_3_03_005.JPG)
For funerals Turntable Ladder with turntable unit removed is used to carry the coffin.
Gear (Incident Uniform)
* Gallet F1 XF helmet (2015)- all fire crews
* USAR rescue helmet - for urban search teams
* EMS rescue helmet - for ambulance personnel
For other ranks, the name of the station are printed on both sides of the helmet e.g. Shek Kip Mei - SKM on the sides of the helmet. All station names abbreviations are in letters form. However, this does not apply to officers as their rank is shown by stars and pipes on the side of their helmet, unlike other ranks who display their rank as thin lines on their helmets.
* Nomex protection hood
* PBI Matrix Structural Firefighting protection tunic/overtrousrs (2010-)
fire retardant up to 1093c
Superintendents and Chief Fire Officers
*
Charles E. May (1868–1879) - Superintendent of the Hong Kong Fire
* Francis Joseph Badeley - Superintendent of the Hong Kong Fire Brigade
* Thomas Henry King - Chief Fire Officer
* Philip Peveril John Wodehouse - Chief Fire Officer
* Henry Tom Brooks (1880–1940) - appointed as Superintendent of the then Hong Kong Fire Brigade in 1922 and was Chief Officer of the Fire Brigade when he retired in 1937 (and his son John Brooks would become Deputy Chief Officer retiring in 1955)
Directors of Fire Services
The Director of Fire Services was created in 1961 and replaced the role of Chief Fire Officer and Superintendent of Fire Services:
Superintendent of Fire Services
*
Charles May (1868–1879)
Ranks and insignia
Firefighters
*Director of Fire Services (DFS) (Traditional Chinese: 消防處處長): Bauhinia over pip over wreathed and crossed torches
**Deputy Director of Fire Services (DDFS) (Traditional Chinese: 消防處副處長): Bauhinia over wreathed and crossed torches
*Chief Fire Officer (CFO) (Traditional Chinese: 消防總長): pip over wreathed and crossed torches
**Deputy Chief Fire Officer (DCFO) (Traditional Chinese: 副消防總長): two pips over wreathed crest
*Senior Divisional Officer (SDO) (Traditional Chinese: 高級消防區長): pip over wreathed crest
**Divisional Officer (DO) (Traditional Chinese: 消防區長): wreathed crest
***Assistant Divisional Officer (ADO) (Traditional Chinese: 助理消防區長): three pips
*Senior Station Officer (SStnO) (Traditional Chinese: 高級消防隊長): two pips over bar
**Station Officer (StnO) (Traditional Chinese: 消防隊長): two pips
***Probationary Station Officer (PStnO) (Traditional Chinese: 見習消防隊長): pip
*Principal Fireman (PFn) (Traditional Chinese: 消防總隊目): three bars
*Senior Fireman (SFn) (Traditional Chinese: 消防隊目): two bars
*Fireman (Fn) (Traditional Chinese: 消防員): slide
Ambulance
*Chief Ambulance Officer (CAO) (Traditional Chinese: 救護總長): pip over wreathed and crosses torches
**Deputy Chief Ambulance Officer (DCAO) (Traditional Chinese: 副救護總長): two pips over wreathed crest
***Senior Assistant Chief Ambulance Officer (SACAO) (Traditional Chinese: 高級助理救護總長): pip over wreathed crest over bar
****Assistant Chief Ambulance Officer (ACAO) (Traditional Chinese: 助理救護總長): pip over wreathed crest
*Ambulance Superintendent (Supt) (Traditional Chinese: 救護監督): wreathed crest
*Senior Ambulance Officer (SAO) (Traditional Chinese: 高級救護主任): three pips
**Ambulance Officer (AO) (Traditional Chinese: 救護主任): two pips
***Probationary Ambulance Officer (PAO) (Traditional Chinese: 見習救護主任): pip
*Principal Ambulanceman (PAmbm) (Traditional Chinese: 救護總隊目): three bars
**Senior Ambulanceman (SAmbm) (Traditional Chinese: 救護隊目): two bars
***Ambulanceman (Ambm) (Traditional Chinese: 救護員): slide
Crest and flag
The current Fire Service crest was adopted in 1997 to replace the pre-handover crest due to presence of colonial elements. The changes impacted both uniforms (lapels, buttons, helmets, caps), vehicles, flags and other signage.
Crest
The new crest removed all colonial elements. Laurel wreath was retained.
St Edward's Crown
St Edward's Crown is the centrepiece of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. Named after Saint Edward the Confessor, versions of it have traditionally been used to crown English and British monarchs at their coronations since the 13th cen ...
was replaced with
Bauhinia
''Bauhinia'' () is a large genus of flowering plants in the subfamily Cercidoideae and tribe Bauhinieae, in the large flowering plant family Fabaceae, with a pantropical distribution. The genus was named after the Bauhin brothers Gaspard and Jo ...
. The motto changed from the uni-lingual Fire Services - Hong Kong to the bilingual Fire Services Hong Kong (消防). The badge theme changed from a crowned lion holding a pearl to a pair of fire axes and a burning torch
Flag
As the crest was also used on the flag, it too was changed in 1997. The old red flag was replaced by a purple flag with the new crest. This flag is only flown at Headquarters, whereas the
Flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region flies at all fire stations.
Source
Hong Kong Fire Services Department
Fire services on TV and film
The FS has been portrayed in a number of
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
TV series and films:
*
Burning Flame
''Burning Flame'' () is a TVB modern action drama that focuses on the duties and challenges of Hong Kong firefighters. It is the first installment in the ''Burning Flame'' series. The series was specifically filmed to celebrate TVB's 31st Anni ...
– 1998
TVB
Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) is a television broadcasting company based in Hong Kong SAR. The Company operates five free-to-air terrestrial television channels in Hong Kong, with TVB Jade as its main Cantonese language service, and TVB ...
series
*
Burning Flame II
''Burning Flame II'' (Traditional Chinese: 烈火雄心II) is a TVB modern action drama that focuses on the duties and challenges of Hong Kong firefighters. Wong Hei continues to be the leading star in this series along with other new cast member ...
– 2002
TVB
Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) is a television broadcasting company based in Hong Kong SAR. The Company operates five free-to-air terrestrial television channels in Hong Kong, with TVB Jade as its main Cantonese language service, and TVB ...
series
*
Burning Flame III
''Burning Flame III'' (Chinese Traditional: 烈火雄心3) is a TVB production.
It is an independent installment to 1998's '' Burning Flame'' and 2002's '' Burning Flame II''.
Pre-release
Development
Burning Flame III will have a new storylin ...
– 2009
TVB
Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) is a television broadcasting company based in Hong Kong SAR. The Company operates five free-to-air terrestrial television channels in Hong Kong, with TVB Jade as its main Cantonese language service, and TVB ...
series
*
Lifeline – 1997 film of pre-handover FS
*
F.S.D. /
Elite Brigade – 2010
RTHK
Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) is the public broadcasting service in Hong Kong. GOW, the predecessor to RTHK, was established in 1928 as the first broadcasting service in Hong Kong. As a government department under the Commerce and Econom ...
series
*
As the Light Goes Out
''As the Light Goes Out'' () is a 2014 Hong Kong-Chinese disaster film directed by Derek Kwok and starring Nicholas Tse, Shawn Yue, Simon Yam and Hu Jun.
Cast
* Nicholas Tse as Sam Ho Wing-sam (何永森)
* Shawn Yue as Yau Pong-chiu (游邦潮)
...
– 2014 film of post-handover FS
*
Life on the Line
''Life on the Line'' is the second studio album by English rock band Eddie and the Hot Rods. The album was mixed by Ed Hollis and Steve Nicol, produced by Ed Hollis, and engineered by Steve Lillywhite. This release is considered a step in the ...
– 2018 film about Cheung Sha Wan ambulance station
See also
*
Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council
The National Council for Fire & Emergency Services (formerly the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council or ''AFAC''), is the peak body responsible for representing fire, emergency services and land management agencies in th ...
*
China Fire and Rescue
China Fire and Rescue Force ( zh, 中国消防救援队) is the state emergency service force for firefighting and rescue in China, which is part of the civil service and administrated by the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM).
China Fire a ...
*
Emergency medical services in Hong Kong
*
Fire Services Bureau
The Fire Services Bureau (; pt, Corpo de Bombeiros, CB) is responsible for fire and rescue services in Macau. Volunteer fire brigades in Macau dates back to 1851 and full-time department in 1883. Prior to 1851, the Portugal, Portuguese military ...
*
Hong Kong Police Force
The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) is the primary law enforcement, investigative agency, and largest disciplined service under the Security Bureau of Hong Kong. The Royal Hong Kong Police Force (RHKPF) reverted to its former name after the t ...
*
List of fire departments
This is a list of fire departments in the world. A fire department or fire brigade also known as a fire and rescue service or fire service is a public or private organization that provides firefighting, rescue and emergency medical services for a c ...
*
Marine Region
The Marine Region is a branch of the Hong Kong Police Force, more widely known as the Marine Police. The marine police patrol of waters within the territory of Hong Kong, including 263 islands. The Marine Region with about 3,000 officers, and ...
References
External links
*
Fireboats in the fleet of the Fire Services DepartmentHong Kong Disciplined Services
{{Authority control