Fire emergency calls and ambulance dispatches rise in first half of 2026

[Photo: Renato Marques]

As Macau enters peak typhoon season, the Fire Services Bureau (CB) said it is stepping up safety inspections and public education efforts, even as fire calls and ambulance dispatches both rose in the first half of 2026.

At a press conference Friday, the city’s CB revealed that it handled 476 fire calls from January to June, up 17% from 406 in the same period last year.

Of those, 381 did not require the use of fire hoses, meaning most fires were brought under control in their early stages.

CB officials further detailed that more than 60% of those blazes were linked to preventable causes, such as leaving stoves on, unattended flames, burning incense or joss paper, and electrical short circuits.

In the first half of 2026, ambulance dispatches also increased, reaching 23,598, up 5.4% year on year. The bureau said the rise was driven mainly by calls involving mild discomfort, including fever and difficulty breathing, and urged residents to use ambulance services carefully so emergency resources remain available for more serious cases.

Alongside emergency callouts, the bureau carried out 4,955 fire safety inspections in community buildings during the period. It issued administrative penalties in 79 cases, mostly for motorcycles parked in evacuation routes and miscellaneous items left in escape paths. Another eight cases were also moved into the penalty process.

Hazardous materials checks were another focus raised by the bureau. The bureau conducted 3,431 inspections in the first half of the year and issued two administrative penalties related to excessive storage of liquefied petroleum gas.

Looking forward, the bureau said it is also ramping up preparations for typhoon season and storm surge risks. It announced that it has been coordinating evacuation planning for low-lying areas and conducting public outreach to improve awareness of disaster response and household readiness.

In the first half of the year, the bureau organized 452 fire prevention, first aid, fuel safety and civil protection activities, reaching more than 31,000 participants. Those efforts included 122 safety talks, 43 evacuation drills and 39 firefighting training exercises, according to CB.

The bureau said it also trained more than 14,000 people in fire safety management courses by June as part of an effort to strengthen safety awareness in the community.

Officials reiterated that electrical and gas appliances remain routine but significant fire risks, and urged residents to avoid overloading outlets, replace damaged equipment promptly and maintain gas devices regularly.