Wang Tau Hom Estate: Dehumidifier Short-Circuit Fire Injures 4

Around 3am a unit in Wang Tau Hom Estate's Wang Yiu House caught fire, sending thick smoke through the corridors. Residents evacuated via stairwells; firefighters extinguished the blaze in about half an hour. Four residents were taken to hospital with smoke inhalation. Initial investigation points to a short-circuited dehumidifier inside the flat.

Editor's note

Appliances that run for long hours — dehumidifiers, air-conditioners — can develop arc faults inside ageing or damp wiring that conventional RCBOs may not catch in time. Older buildings should have a licensed electrician inspect the consumer unit and add an AFDD (Arc Fault Detection Device) to significantly reduce the risk of electrical fire.