The fire first started around 11 pm last night as white smoke carrying the smell of burning plastic billowed out of Shanghai Wah Lai Beauty Salon, located on the ground floor of Kam Hon House.

The sister of the boss named Tsui was then informed by neighbors and rushed to the scene to open the door and let firefighters go put out the fire.

Some 30 residents evacuated to the ground floor on their own. A 21-year-old woman felt unwell after inhaling the smoke, and 28-year-old male pedestrian who tried to pull the fire hose to put out the fire injured his fingers. Both refused to be sent to a hospital.

Sources said the fire started because the debris in the backstreet was set ablaze. Firefighters didn’t find the fire suspicious after investigations.

The shop, a family business inherited by the Tsui’s, is one of Hong Kong’s few and remaining traditional Shanghai-style barber shops.

The shop was opened nearly 60 years ago. The boss is now 78-year-old and even their youngest employee is aged above 60.

The vintage renovation, including the old-fashioned floor tiles and the ceiling fans, also attracted Cantonpop stars like singer Joey Yung Cho-yee and boy band Mirror to shoot their music videos.