The two firemen who died battling the blaze on Sunday might get permanent burial at Gallant Garden as both the Fire Services Department and the public mourned their deaths yesterday.

Several government departments are still investigating the cause of fire in Cornwall Court, Nathan Road on Sunday that claimed four lives, including the two firemen.

During the fire on Sunday, Siu and Chan went from floor to floor by walking up the stairs to search for and rescue stranded residents. In the end, they were found lying unconscious on the roof top of the building but their oxygen flasks were not with them. When their oxygen flasks were later located, they were empty.

To find out why their oxygen flasks were missing when they were found, the Fire Services Department task force will investigate, among other things, if they had given the oxygen flasks to the residents or if there were other reasons.

To pay tributes to the senior fireman Siu Wing-fong and foreman Chan Siu-long, who sacrificed their lives, the flags at all fire stations were at half-mast yesterday.

Throughout the day, citizens sent flowers to the fire station where they were attached and outside Cornwall Court to show their respect to the valiant firefighters.

Director of Fire Services Lo Chun-hung yesterday met with Siu and Chan's family members. Lo pledged that the dead firemen will be given the highest honor and he will ask for the pair's right to be buried permanently in Gallant Garden, the cemetery reserved for civil servants who die on duty.

Permanent burials are granted only to those who die while performing exceptional acts of bravery.

Lo also said he will ask the chief executive to confer on them posthumous medals in recognition of their bravery.

Yesterday morning, a number of government departments, including the Buildings Department, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the Crime Unit of West Kowloon Police Headquarters, the Government Chemist and Fire Services Department task force returned to the scene to investigate the accident. Building inspectors said the mezzanine and first floor of the building where the fire broke out had to be closed and overhauled.

According to the night club staff on the mezzanine floor, it was the air conditioner inside the nightclub that caught fire first. And as the smoke screen door on the mezzanine floor was removed, heavy smoke spread up to the upper floors via the stairway.

The charred body found on the mezzanine floor last night was identified to be a female and believed to be a hostess of the night club who was sleeping there.

The acrid smell of the blaze still hung heavy yesterday, with some residents saying they have yet to recover from the shock. Some even cried remembering the brave acts of the two firemen, who died while rescuing the stranded residents.

Last night, five people who were injured in the fire were still hospitalized and their condition was stated to be stable. The three injured firemen were discharged.

Guarded by policemen and with fire-fighting machines on standby, the building was still closed yesterday and the residents were only allowed to go inside to get their belongings.

At a live radio talk show yesterday, former director of fire services Anthony Lam advised people to familiarize themselves with the escape routes in their buildings. In case of fire, they should escape via smoke-free stairways.

However, they should use wet towels to block the door apertures if the smoke is too heavy.

(HK Edition 08/12/2008 page2)