A fire broke out at a ground-floor bakery on Fu Shan Street in Tai Po on September 13, sending heavy smoke into the area and prompting about 50 people to evacuate themselves. No injuries were reported.
Smoke was reported from the premises at about 10am, with Star Headline reporting the fire at 10:08am. Firefighters extinguished it by 10:25am, while Ming Pao described the blaze as being put out about 18 minutes after crews arrived.
The response involved one breathing apparatus team and one water jet. The fire was contained without any reported injuries, according to accounts from Star Headline and Ming Pao.
Star Headline reported that the bakery was badly damaged, with much of its interior blackened. The cause remained under investigation; the proprietor, Mr Lee, told the outlet that a stove caught fire while the shop was making red date cake, but that account has not been established as the official cause.
Mr Lee also told Star Headline that repairs were expected to take more than a month. He said the bakery would be unable to produce mooncakes before the Mid-Autumn Festival, creating a significant impact on the business.