Fire safety administration heightens management, oversight in wake of accidents

The National Fire and Rescue Administration has demanded authorities across the country intensify management of fires and welding operations amid a grim fire control situation this year.

As of Tuesday, 396,000 fire disasters had been registered across the country, 40.4 percent more compared with the same period last year, a media release from the administration said on Thursday.

These disasters left 639 dead and 678 injured with direct economic losses reaching over 2.2 billion yuan ($319.8 million).

"Recently, a spate of fire disasters that resulted in heavy casualties have happened in Beijing, Zhejiang province and other regions. The fire control situation is extremely grim," it continued.

A blaze in Beijing Changfeng Hospital in the capital's Fengtai district on Wednesday killed 29, most of which were patients. Preliminary investigation showed the fire was caused by welding sparks during renovation work.

The administration asked authorities across the country to enhance supervision over locations that have been frequently hit by fires, as they strive to curb fire-related safety hazards.

With hospitals, labor-intensive enterprises, warehouses and logistic companies as the major targets, local authorities should prioritize the maintenance of fire fighting facilities, the storage of inflammable and explosive articles, as well as fire and electricity-related operations.

The administration demanded fire and rescue bodies across the country make determined efforts to address violations.

A safety supervision mechanism that covers the entire industry chain of welding should be established, it said, adding certificates for workers in welding operation posts should be issued in a more stringent manner.

While examination and approval for fires and welding should be more rigid, more control measures must be rolled out when such operations are underway, the administration concluded.