A fire broke out in Block 2 of New City Garden housing estate on Monday night, injuring five people, including two children and a woman who sustained burns and required emergency treatment – and the Fire Services Bureau (CB) said yesterday it believed the fire was the result of a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) leak.
The fire was reported to the Fire Services Bureau at about 9 p.m. on Monday night, with smoke billowing from the scene and the sound of an explosion being heard. Firefighters responding to the scene extinguished the blaze using open hoses at the flat located on the 19th floor of the building. Burn marks were found in the living room, bedrooms, and kitchen, while part of the corridor on that floor had been blackened by smoke. CB Vice Commissioner Lam Chon Sang said on Monday night that the building was equipped with centralised LPG.
Five individuals, aged between two and 66, were injured in the accident. Among them, a two-year-old boy and an eight-year-old girl as well as a 55-year-old woman were rushed to the public Conde de S. Januário Hospital Centre with burns, while a female passer-by and a resident were sent to hospital for treatment of injuries caused by falling objects and smoke inhalation respectively.
This undated handout photo provided by the Fire Services Bureau (CB) yesterday shows its officers inspecting a residential flat’s gas appliances.
Undated file photo of chemical engineer Matt Lei Chong In. – Photo courtesy of Lei Each household banned to store more than 3 fuel tanks: firefighter
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of an association event yesterday, Ng Wai Kit, a CB officer, reminded the public that if they detect any LPG leakage in their homes, they should remain calm, switch off the LPG mains, and leave the scene quickly, urging them not to touch any switches to avoid creating sparks that could lead to an explosion. He also referenced the LPG storage regulations in Macau, which prohibit the storage of more than three full or empty tanks with a total capacity exceeding 90 cubic centimetres in each dwelling.
Ng stressed that when making emergency calls, callers should always provide clear information about the location and condition of the fire, allowing attendants to make accurate judgments before issuing rescue orders. He also warned the public to avoid taking a lift when escaping the scene and to use staircases instead. Additionally, he emphasised the importance of covering one’s mouth and nose with a damp cloth and crawl as low as possible when encountering dense smoke.
In case an escape is not possible, Ng underlined the importance of finding a room facing the road, closing the door and sealing the cracks with a wet towel, while notifying the bureau of the location as soon as possible.
Chemical engineer stresses govt-public-business tripartite cooperation
A local chemical engineer, Matt Lei Chong In, yesterday emphasised the need for tripartite cooperation between the government, the public and the business sector in promoting the safe use of fuel gas. He noted that many households in Macau use gas appliances, adding that relying solely on the Fire Services Bureau’s annual safety inspections of gas appliances and its awareness-raising campaigns makes it challenging to effectively manage the safety of residential gas appliances.
In his written remarks to the Post, Lei pointed out that although the “Technical Regulation on Gas Line Supply Facilities in Buildings”, issued in 2021, clearly outlines safety standards – stating that kitchen cabinets underneath built-in gas appliances must not be connected to neighbouring cabinets and must have permanent ventilation openings of at least 80 square centimetres in total – “many households still have hidden issues”, such as inappropriate installation locations.
Lei suggested that the government, such as the Fire Services Bureau, take the lead and intervene to advise and rectify the situation of households with safety hazards and, at the same time, provide assistance through professional businesses, such as gas supply companies, to provide qualified technicians to assist the public in replacing the appliances regularly, so that residents would not have to worry about “excuses”, such as high expenses, and ignore issues that ultimately could cost them their life.
He also reminded the public that the rubber hoses connecting LPG cylinders to cookers should be replaced every three years to prevent ageing and cracking, as it could lead to gas leaks and safety incidents. If conditions permit, it is recommended to replace rubber hoses with metal ones to extend their lifespan and enhance safety, Lei underlined.
