Fire services boost patrols and drones for Chung Yeung Festival
The Fire Services Department will intensify patrols and emergency readiness across 12 high-risk hill fire zones in the New Territories ahead of Sunday's Chung Yeung Festival. It will deploy patrol teams, AI smoke-detection drones and a water-drop drone to curb vegetation fires, which average about 3
The Fire Services Department will step up patrols and emergency readiness across 12 high-risk hill fire zones in the New Territories ahead of the Chung Yeung Festival on Sunday, with a focus on grave-sweeping hotspots.
Under a joint operation with the Civil Aid Service, 12 dedicated patrol teams will be deployed to targeted locations across New Territories West and New Territories North, including Wang Chau in Yuen Long, Chi Ma Leng in Pat Heung and Shek Wu San Tsuen in Sheung Shui.
The New Territories North Command has activated a senior command post, while other operational divisions stand ready to set up senior command facilities or forward command centres depending on developments, the department said.
A department spokesman said Hong Kong typically records about 600 hill fires each year, and over the past decade an average of roughly 30 fires have occurred during the two-week window surrounding the Chung Yeung Festival, with exact figures heavily dependent on prevailing weather conditions.
Forecasts of sunny conditions and relative humidity between 60 and 80 per cent on Sunday are expected to draw substantial crowds to hill cemeteries for grave-sweeping, significantly increasing the risk of vegetation blazes, the spokesman added. He assured that comprehensive operational plans have been established to handle any outbreaks swiftly.
Authorities will also deploy three specialised technological systems to enhance early detection and firefighting in rugged terrain. These include a remote aerial detection system operated from dedicated mobile platforms and an artificial intelligence image analysis system capable of detecting smoke and issuing automated alerts in real time while drones are airborne.
In addition, the department has introduced a heavy-duty drone fitted with an automated water payload drop system capable of carrying an 80-litre water device, providing direct aerial suppression support in remote and steep hillside areas that are difficult for ground crews to reach quickly.