Fire Safety for Wheelchair Users: Lessons from the Hong Kong Fire

On November 26th, 2025, more than 4,000 lives, especially the lives of people in wheelchairs, were at the mercy of a fire breakout in Wang Fuk Court, Hong Kong. According to a news article by The New York Times, officials said that the Hong Kong fire began in Block F when a net on the floor caught fire.

 

A publication by the BBC as of November 28th says that the number of deaths caused by the fire has risen to at least 128. While 78 people are reported injured, with 16 bodies confirmed to have been left in the building because help did not get to them during the blaze.

 

So what should wheelchair users do in a fire? Fire emergencies pose lots of challenges for people in wheelchairs. And as a result, wheelchair users need strategies that are practical, realistic, and anchored in the realities of emergency response.

 

This article breaks down the unique risks wheelchair users face during fire emergencies. It discusses the obstacles wheelchair users experience in multi-story buildings. It has also explored the immediate actions that can make a difference for people in wheelchairs in a fire. And finally, the role of helpful mobility technologies in a fire evacuation.

 

Challenges Faced by People in Wheelchairs in Multi-Story Buildings

Some buildings are as tall as 30 storeys. For example, the Wang Fuk Court towers, where the recent Hong Kong fire broke out. According to a BBC report, Wang Fuk Court consists of eight tower blocks, each 31 storeys high. When a fire breaks out in tall buildings like these, evacuation is usually complicated for everyone, but most of all for wheelchair users. This is usually due to challenges, which include:

 

Lack of accessible refuge stations:

 

For better understanding, a refuge station, as the name implies, is an area of refuge, sometimes known as a safe room, in a building intended to house people in case of any fire or other emergency. Residents may remain there until firefighters rescue them or relieve them. A refuge station is meant to be a safety haven, especially for wheelchair users, because of their immobility. Unfortunately, many multi-story buildings do not have them.

Research by MDPI on Fire Evacuation for People with Functional Disabilities in High-Rise Buildings: A Scoping Review reveals that individuals with functional disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs, are particularly vulnerable when multi-story buildings fail to provide designated refuge stations in the event of emergencies. So they are left in corridors and other open spaces to be engulfed by smoke as they cannot access the stairs.

 

Lack of access to elevators:

Being unable to use elevators forces people in wheelchairs into situations where the only exits left for them are stairways, or, in most cases, they have to wait for help. This limitation can cause delays. It can also cause an evacuation standstill for them.

During the Hong Kong fire, for instance, reports noted that evacuation relied heavily on ground transport and manual movement out of danger zones. This happens after emergency responders locate residents and not through an automated building evacuation plan that includes accessible vertical movement.

 

Poor information and emergency guidance:

Whenever there is a fire emergency, there is bound to be confusion and chaos in the vicinity. In such a scene, clear instruction becomes a life-saving tool. In some buildings, signage may be placed too high for their reach. And real-time updates often do not reach them fast enough.

The MDPI research on fire evacuation for those with disabilities clearly stated that emergency procedures frequently fail to take wheelchair users' unique needs into account, giving them little information about safe escape routes or other options.

In the recent Hong Kong fire incident, initial reports showed that residents were not informed about the seriousness of the fire and that fire sirens were delayed. Some lamented that the fire alarms were not even working properly, leaving residents unsure of when and how to flee.

 

Dependence on others for assistance:

Because of their immobility, people in wheelchairs often need help from others to move out of harm’s way during a fire. Without elevators, stair-only exits, or blocked paths, independent movement is impossible. In these situations, they depend on caregivers, neighbors, or emergency responders to physically assist them, which can be slow or unpredictable in a rapidly deteriorating environment.

Emergency evacuation research by MDPI underscores how this reliance on others increases both the time and risk associated with getting out of the building safely.

 

Heavy fire doors and building barriers:

In case you are hearing it for the first time, fire doors are specially designed doors with fire-resistant materials like steel or specialized woods meant to resist fire from spreading in a building for a certain period of time whenever there is a fire breakout.

Many buildings use fire doors to contain flames and smoke, and while these doors are very good for overall safety, they can be extremely heavy and hard for a wheelchair user to operate alone. Even if a person in a wheelchair can roll up to a stairwell, pushing open a heavy fire door or navigating a narrow exit doorway can be almost impossible without assistance in a multi-story building.

 

Immediate Actions Wheelchair Users Should Take During a Fire

If you are reading this article as a wheelchair user or someone who cares for a wheelchair user, this is the section to pay the most attention to. You know, when a fire breaks out, the atmosphere is generally confusing and tense. However, it’s usually best to be steady and calm so that you can be able to take well-thought-out steps toward safety.

So what should wheelchair users do during a fire? These are the steps to take:

 

Assess surroundings quickly and stay low to avoid smoke:

In any fire emergency, the first job of a wheelchair user is to first understand what is happening around them. Where is the smoke coming from? Which direction looks safer? It’s good to know that smoke rises really fast, and breathing can make you dizzy and disoriented. However, there is usually a spot that looks safer. There is usually a spot that the smoke gets to much later. These are the spots to calmly locate during a fire breakout. When you find a safe spot, lean slightly lower while you think of an escape route or wait for help.

 

If stairs are the only exit route, go to a refuge center:

Recall what a refuge center is in a building, especially a multiple-story one? We mentioned earlier that it’s a safe space in the building that people, especially wheelchair users, can stay in in case of any fire emergency while awaiting evacuation.

Now, except for wheelchairs that have special technological features, most wheelchair users can’t use stairs. And trying to go down them without assistance during a fire is extremely dangerous.

So, in case of any fire emergency, when you reach an exit and find only stairs, don’t panic; look for a refuge area instead. The refuge center will protect you while firefighters make their way to your location. Getting to a safe, fire-resistant space is far better than putting yourself at risk on the stairs.

 

Avoid the elevators entirely:

If you have read to this point, you have seen where we mentioned that elevators are programmed to automatically shut down in a fire breakout to avoid accidents. What does this tell you? Even if an elevator door opens right in front of you, don’t use it. Elevators can fail, they can trap you in, they can be filled with smoke, and they can stop working mid-evacuation.

 

Call emergency services as soon as you can and clearly state the location:

The next fast and safe action you can take as a wheelchair user is calling emergency services if your phone is nearby and you’re safe enough to use it. When you are able to make a call, let them know exactly where you are: your floor number, room number, or anything that can help them find you quickly. Mention that you’re a person in a wheelchair so rescuers understand you need immediate, accessible assistance. The sooner they know, the faster they can come.

 

If calling is not possible, signal for help:

This is the next safest and fastest action a person in a wheelchair can take in a fire. If smoke is getting heavy or you can’t reach your phone, try to make yourself noticeable. Shout, tap on a wall, shine a light, or wave something bright—anything that helps rescuers spot you. Staying visible increases your chances of being found quickly, even if you can’t move far or speak for long.

 

Essential Mobility Technologies for Fire Evacuation

Mobile technologies are not meant to replace emergency responders, but they do provide wheelchair users with greater control and safer options during a fire breakout. When elevators are disabled and hallways are crowded, these three innovations offer critical independence and maneuverability.

 

TR250T: Portable Wheelchair Stairlift

When stairs become the only path to safety, the TR250T Stairlift is a game-changer. This device allows a caregiver or responder to guide a wheelchair user safely down staircases. It serves as a vital alternative to waiting on upper floors when elevators are shut down and time is of the essence.

 

XSTO X12: AI + All-Terrain Mobility Robot

Evacuation challenges often continue outdoors, where debris and uneven pavement can stall traditional wheelchairs. The XSTO X12 is designed for these rugged conditions. Notably, it is capable of autonomously climbing stairs, requiring no manual assistance. This allows users to reach safe zones independently when every second counts.

 

Summing it up…

In this piece, we have shown you helpful and game-changing mobility technologies that can aid evacuation in a fire where a wheelchair user is involved. The accessible mobility technologies, safe refuge areas, and practiced personal emergency evacuation plan all help reduce risk and give wheelchair users more control during an emergency.

Once again, we would love to remind every wheelchair user to take a closer look at their home, workplace, or residential building and understand how to move safely if a fire occurs. Planning ahead, knowing your options, and keeping the right support tools available would define how you face any emergency situation.