The Invisible Embers and Unending Sobs Rekindled by the Hong Kong Fire [Today's Column]
Black smoke continues to rise from the high-rise apartment building. Flames are pushed out from every window, flickering with an eerie presence. This is footage of the Hong Kong fire. It is said that the bamboo scaffolding and netting covering the exterior walls accelerated the intensity of the fire. The modern cityscape turned into a hellscape in an instant. The sheer contrast sent a chill down my spine. No matter how sturdy a building may appear, it is utterly powerless in the face of fire once it bares its fangs.
Today's Column covered this fire, focusing on the unique "bamboo scaffolding" in Hong Kong. There is an implication that the flammability of the bamboo led to the spread of the damage. However, on social media, there are prominent points being made locally that "the material of the protective netting was inappropriate." Whether it was the bamboo, the netting, or a failure in management, one thing is certain: a chain of flaws occurred, and a gap in safety management was laid bare.
There is a sight I cannot forget. When I was in elementary school, there was a fire just a few minutes from the school. Looking from the schoolyard where we had evacuated, thick black smoke was rising incessantly. A neighbor's house was burning. It was the home of a student at the same school. That student, seeing the scene, was simply crying and screaming. The source of the fire was apparently the careless disposal of a cigarette. A peaceful daily life can be reduced to ashes in an instant by a lump of fire only a few centimeters in size. This might be the first and last time I ever heard sobs wrung from the very bottom of one's soul.
What is terrifying is the case where the fire does not flare up immediately. Cigarette fires have a phenomenon called "smoldering combustion". It does not produce flames but continues to smolder inside bedding or tatami mats for a long time. Hours later, the moment the conditions are met, it erupts explosively. The danger that progresses without a sound cannot be sensed from the outside. By the time you notice it, it is already too late. According to Fire and Disaster Management Agency statistics, cigarettes continue to account for a high percentage of fire causes.
Recently, there has been an increase in heated tobacco products that do not use fire, but many people still love paper cigarettes. Even a small ember is enough to burn down an entire house if the conditions are right. From December, the cold air will intensify, and it seems it will take on the appearance of midwinter. A season dominated by dry air. Not limited to cigarettes, I want to be extra careful about fire safety.