Beijing recruits civilians to fill firefighting gaps

Beijing has unveiled its first batch of 682 civilian firefighters, recruited from the ranks of former soldiers and local youth.

Fire and rescue services in China are permanently staffed by soldiers of the Armed Police Force and fall under the Ministry of Public Security. However, in April, the Beijing city government approved a plan to recruit civilians as firefighters under contracts.

Former soldiers under 38 years old who previously served in fire brigades account for 20 percent of the new recruits, while civilians under 30 from Beijing represent 80 percent.