A large drone dropped water bombs during a simulated hill-fire and mountain-rescue exercise near Lion Rock Country Park on 9 October. The Hong Kong Fire Services Department said it was the first time it had deployed a large drone for that purpose, as preparation for Chung Yeung Festival operations.
The drill imagined 25 hikers encountering a hill fire. About 150 people took part, including around 90 fire and ambulance personnel.
The department also tested rescue tools including a mobile-phone locator and artificial intelligence to analyse fire conditions and help identify people needing rescue.
The department warned that dry conditions and wind could make a hill fire more intense and help it spread quickly. It urged people grave-sweeping or hiking not to leave embers or other ignition sources behind, and to move promptly to safety if they encounter a fire.