ENG COM.

On 23 December, 2008 I went to a commercial building in Mongkok because I wanted to join a tour to Japan during Christmas. The travel agency is located on the second floor of this commercial building. I arrived there at around 9:35 a.m. and found out that a fire broke out from a Chinese restaurant which is located on the first floor of the shopping mall. Thick smoke and flames went out from the windows and quickly spread to other floors. Some people escaped downstairs while some who were not able to find the exit rushed up to the roof top and shouted for help. At approximately 9:45 a.m., 2 fire engines arrived at the scene. A fire officer declared the fire to be third alarm as the whole building was engulfed in flames. The firemen used three hoses to battle the fire. Two other firemen expanded a ladder to the rooftop to rescue the people who had escaped there. The fire was brought under control at around 10:30 a.m., and it completely extinguished shortly after. As the travel agency was badly damaged, I was not able to join the tour. Luckily no one was injured due to the fire.