Dry weather, more people visiting graves and ritual burning of incense, candles and joss paper have raised the risk of hill fires ahead of Sunday’s Chung Yeung holiday, the Hong Kong Fire Services Department says.
The department and the Civil Aid Service are deploying more than 250 personnel in 12 patrol teams at 12 high-risk sites. Most are in the western and northern New Territories, including areas around Yuen Long, Tuen Mun, Tin Shui Wai, Sheung Shui and Fanling.
The department also plans continuous drone patrols to look for smoke and suspicious conditions. Drones can provide support in remote or steep places that crews may struggle to reach quickly. The department says it is also combining drone automation systems with AI image analysis.
Patrol teams will remind grave visitors about fire safety and are intended to help crews respond quickly if a fire starts. The department warns visitors not to leave fire sources behind.