I took a couple business trips to Hong Kong in 2019 and I made several business trips to Shanghai and Beijing during the 2010s.

I could not believe that these tall buildings used bamboo scaffolding in the 2010s.

I hadn't really considered the fire aspect, it was just the safety aspect. As a Westerner, it looked crazy to me. I guess if you know how to build it and are used to working with it, it's probably not a big deal with respect to safety.

With respect to the fire spreading due to bamboo scaffolding, it looks like we might be being fed a narrative.

The “bamboo scaffolding caused the fire” narrative is not only factually wrong, it reflects a prejudice against in-situ craft and HK's own construction traditions. The fire started with the netting. The bamboo is still intact. We deserve better reporting. @BBCWorld pic.twitter.com/GQiHZCTsPj

— Chung Ching Kwong 鄺頌晴 (@chungchingkwong) November 27, 2025

HollywoodBQ said:

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I took a couple business trips to Hong Kong in 2019 and I made several business trips to Shanghai and Beijing during the 2010s.

I could not believe that these tall buildings used bamboo scaffolding in the 2010s.

I hadn't really considered the fire aspect, it was just the safety aspect. As a Westerner, it looked crazy to me. I guess if you know how to build it and are used to working with it, it's probably not a big deal with respect to safety.

With respect to the fire spreading due to bamboo scaffolding, it looks like we might be being fed a narrative.

The “bamboo scaffolding caused the fire” narrative is not only factually wrong, it reflects a prejudice against in-situ craft and HK's own construction traditions. The fire started with the netting. The bamboo is still intact. We deserve better reporting. @BBCWorld pic.twitter.com/GQiHZCTsPj

— Chung Ching Kwong 鄺頌晴 (@chungchingkwong) November 27, 2025

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I'll be heading to HKG from Shenzhen in about 2 days by car. Should pass close by the site.

If the netting is still part of that same tradition then it's still stupid.

Death toll now 151, will probably end up being double.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8ng18p7v3o

Also, China doing China in HK; " Separately, police reportedly detained a 24-year-old man on suspicion of sedition on Saturday. He was part of a group petitioning for an independent inquiry into the fire. An online petition gathered more than 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its contents were wiped."

Bamboo scaffolding. Sounds safe.

bonfarr said:

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Bamboo scaffolding. Sounds safe.

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no ****, no way im getting on bamboo scaffolding that is that high in the air, crazy that it even works

This reminds me of the Grenfell fire in the UK. Wouldn't shock me if something similar is at play (combination of flammable materials and improper design and/or changes to design allowing for rapid spread of fire).

MouthBQ98 said:

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An actual real Chinese fire drill wpuld have come in handy.

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Wellp, we're all going to hell now. lol