It was the longest blaze Hong Kong has seen in decades. Smoke continued to spew out of the Amoycan Industrial Centre in Kowloon Bay for more than 100 hours after stacks of goods stored in pigeon-hole cubicles in the mini-storage facility caught fire last Tuesday morning. As the city mourned the loss of two dauntless firefighters to the deadly fumes, more men in insulated protective gear continued to fight the inferno, responding to the call of duty.

China Daily photographer Edmond Tang captured some of the touching moments as firemen fought the blaze with selfless courage and devotion. In the protracted battle between the firemen and the merciless flames, there was not even the slightest doubt as to which side would ultimately win the tussle.

As the fire was finally put out late on Saturday night, the heroes of the battle might have been seen over-stretched from head to toe, yet there hardly any signs of fatigue among them, only lingering grins and, maybe, a little elation.

Above: A fireman cools off with water from a sprinkler outside Amoycan Industrial Centre on Thursday. Below left: A firefighter takes a break at the scene. Below right: Firefighters inside the building searching for clues to the deadly blaze.

Left, top to bottom: Thick smoke spews out from Amoycan Industrial Centre in Kowloon Bay last Thursday. A firefighter adjusts his mask, while his colleagues clean up the scene after taming the blaze.

(HK Edition 06/27/2016 page9)