Your Thrilling Fire Scene, His Daily Duty
Fire Station Captain Hu Ling-Chih: Saving Lives Is the Most Fulfilling Calling of My Life

For over 30 years, Hu Ling-Chih has braved countless fires and repeatedly walked the line between life and death—but never once has he backed down. As the captain of the Tucheng Fire Brigade under the Fifth Disaster Relief and Ambulance Corps of the New Taipei City Fire Department, he is responsible for guarding Taiwan’s most densely packed area of tin-plate factories. With chemical substances and flammable materials everywhere, a single fire can cause billions in damages—or cost countless lives. In such high-risk environments, a good lighting device can often mean the difference between life and death.

“The deadliest part of a fire isn’t the fire—it’s the smoke.”
Lighting Becomes the Key to Survival

“Thick smoke blocks vision, which is the main obstacle to escape and rescue efficiency,” says Hu Ling-Chih. Especially in the middle of the night or in enclosed spaces, if exit routes or teammates can’t be quickly located, one can easily get disoriented and miss the critical window for rescue. That’s why emergency lighting devices with the ability to penetrate smoke are considered lifesaving gear by every firefighter.

He explains that white light is often reflected in dense smoke, reducing visibility, whereas warm yellow light offers better penetration. In real-life operations, LED balloon lights made by YUANG LIGHT, a Taiwanese company, have proven highly effective. These lights, developed and manufactured locally, feature 360-degree illumination with soft, warm yellow lighting. They not only effectively light up smoke-filled environments without causing harsh glare but also significantly enhance rescue efficiency.

YUANG LIGHT’s LED balloon lights are widely used in various disaster relief and medical rescue missions. From the Kaohsiung gas explosion to the Tainan earthquake and the TransAsia plane crash, their presence has been a constant. These lights are not only used for illumination but also serve as command markers, escape route indicators, and even help locate rescuers in outdoor or mountain rescue operations.

In a factory fire where flames spread over nearly 3,000 square meters and flammable chemicals kept exploding, Hu Ling-Chih decisively ordered the sacrifice of part of the building to save surrounding factories. During the long night of the battle, YUANG LIGHT’s balloon lights were deployed at the factory entrances and the rescue command center, providing stable lighting for medical and emergency use. Their high brightness and glare-free performance helped assess injuries and perform initial first aid, playing a crucial role.

In another mountain rescue mission, the Sanxia team set up a balloon light on the mountain top. Despite thick fog, the balloon light remained visible from afar, helping team members locate one another and advance the mission quickly—reducing the risks of getting lost or making errors in judgment. Once again, nighttime emergency lighting proved to be indispensable.

Firefighting Relies Not Only on People, but on Teamwork and Equipment

Hu Ling-Chih recalls a call during his early years at the Sanchong team. He once stood for an entire hour in a burning building, only to realize afterward that he had been standing on a body the whole time. The experience deeply shook him and made him realize, “Every step we take during a rescue affects someone’s life.” From then on, he became even more meticulous in selecting rescue equipment.

In the Butterfly Valley Hotel fire, he personally rescued over 30 trapped people—but as his oxygen tank ran out and he neared suffocation, it was a faint light that guided him out alive. “In that moment, that light was my only hope,” he says.

A firefighter’s daily life is built on repeated adventures and challenges. Beyond skills and experience, support from the team and proper equipment is essential. YUANG LIGHT has proactively donated balloon lights to major rescue units, offering not just tangible resources but also a message of kindness and care.

Captain Chang Hao-Lin of the Dingpu unit once visited YUANG LIGHT’s factory by chance and was surprised to learn that the balloon lights—previously thought to be from Japan—were actually made locally. He immediately applied to try them out, and YUANG LIGHT generously donated them without hesitation, showcasing the warmth of private-sector support.

Hu Ling-Chih emphasizes that the heart of firefighting is never about individual heroism, but about team collaboration. “Only through mutual trust and proper equipment can we save more lives in the most dangerous situations.” He says that YUANG LIGHT’s balloon lights are like beacons on the battlefield—bringing direction and hope in the midst of darkness and smoke.

In the end, every successful disaster relief mission—whether it’s an earthquake, factory fire, or medical emergency—is backed by silent support from lighting tools and the teams that operate them. As Hu Ling-Chih puts it, “That faint but steady light is what gives us the strength to keep going.”

Related Article Links:Huang Chun-Yuan: Over 30 Years of Disaster Relief—Why Did He Resign from His Job, Start a Business, and Nearly Die in a Landslide Just to Save Lives?