Tai Po Fire Independent Committee Report Says a Single Cigarette Most Likely Started Blaze as Fire Services Crew Leader Ho Wai-ho Died Saving Others

The independent committee has ruled that the most likely cause of the Wang Fuk Court fire was a lit cigarette, with flames spreading rapidly vertically up the light well, thick smoke hampering residents' evacuation, and most victims dying from smoke inhalation. The report also devotes a separate section to the death of Fire Services crew leader Ho Wai-ho, saying he was originally able to leave Wang Tai Court but is believed to have tried to help residents evacuate, ultimately leaving him almost no chance of saving himself.