Fire at Hong Kong airport terminal forces gate closures, no injuries

A fire in an electrical engineering and switch room near gate D212 in Terminal 1’s Midfield Concourse forced the temporary closure of three boarding bridges and prompted the evacuation of about 30 people, authorities said. The blaze was reported at roughly 3:03 p.m. local time and was extinguished about an hour later at 4:01 p.m., according to the Fire Services Department.

Firefighters dispatched two fire engines and two teams equipped with breathing apparatus to the scene, advancing hoses into the concourse and bringing the flames under control within the hour. The incident unfolded around 3 p.m. local time (0700 GMT), when airport staff and first responders mobilized to secure the affected technical room, described in agency statements as an electrical engineering or apron switch device room adjacent to gate D212.

Police said the location of the incident was close to boarding gate 212. A social-media video posted by Kenji Lam showed firefighters wearing breathing apparatus directing a hose at gate D212, with plumes of black smoke visible in the concourse area.

Airport Authority Hong Kong confirmed that boarding bridges at gates 212, 214 and 216 were closed temporarily during firefighting operations and that no aircraft were parked at those gates at the time. "To maintain flight operations, some aircraft originally scheduled to park at [the Terminal 1 midfield concourse] were rearranged to operate at remote bays," the authority said, adding that there were no injuries. "Airport Authority Hong Kong is following up on the incident with the Fire Services Department."

Officials limited public details about the cause and extent of any equipment damage. The Fire Services Department provided the timeline and response details, while the airport authority handled operational adjustments to avoid broader disruption to flight schedules. Airport teams moved some arrivals and departures to remote stands to preserve throughput at the busy international hub, but there has been no official confirmation of cancellations or significant delays linked to the incident.

The evacuated group numbered roughly 30 people; authorities have not specified whether they were passengers, terminal staff or contractors. No one was reported injured during the event, and there were no immediate reports of fire spreading beyond the technical room.

Investigators from the airport and the Fire Services Department are following up on the scene to determine the origin and cause of the fire and to assess any impacts on Terminal 1 infrastructure. Officials also indicated they will review systems and protocols related to the affected electrical engineering device room, but they provided no timetable for repairs or for reopening the closed boarding bridges.

The incident highlights operational vulnerabilities when technical rooms serving gate infrastructure are affected, and it will likely prompt closer scrutiny of maintenance records and fire-suppression systems. For now, airport authorities maintain that passenger safety was preserved and that contingency measures were effective in keeping flights moving despite the temporary closures.