The recent Hong Kong apartment fire in Tai Po is believed to have started on the exterior renovation works of one of the towers, but the exact ignition source is still under active investigation as of late November 2025.

Where and how it began

Reports indicate the blaze began on the outside of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, specifically on bamboo scaffolding and green construction netting that wrapped the buildings for renovation. Flames then raced up the exterior and across to other blocks, helped by the tightly packed high‑rise layout of the estate.

Why it spread so fast

Officials say highly flammable materials used in the renovation were a key factor: non‑compliant mesh and plastic sheeting on the façade and styrofoam or expanded polystyrene sheets around windows appear to have allowed the fire to spread extremely quickly between floors and into flats. Dry weather, wind, and the continuous bamboo scaffolding around multiple blocks further accelerated the spread, turning what seems to have been a relatively small initial fire into a multi‑tower disaster.

What is known about the cause

Authorities have not yet announced a definitive ignition cause (for example, whether it was an electrical fault, a discarded cigarette, or other spark), and investigations by police and fire services are ongoing. However, three people from the construction contractor have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, with police alleging gross negligence in using non‑compliant, highly flammable materials that allowed the fire to grow and spread so disastrously once it started.