Dry spell sparks holiday fire rise

106-percent hike in blazes started by fireworks, but no casualties

Fireworks and firecrackers caused almost 200 blazes across the capital during this year's Spring Festival celebrations, a 106-percent increase on figures for 2010.

Emergency authorities, however, said no casualties were reported, while roughly 70 percent of incidents between Feb 2 and 7 occurred in suburbs outside the Fifth Ring Road.