Beijing Inspects Fire-Safety Compliance

Fire officials in Beijing launched a 10-day inspection of fire safety compliance locally starting from Wednesday.

The emergency inspection on the first day was targeted at several big furniture businesses and a gas bottling plant in the southern suburb.

Officials with the Beijing Municipal Fire-fighting Bureau said sites to be reviewed in the next few days include those places producing, storing or selling flammable and explosive chemicals, big shopping malls and markets, public recreation centers, and other places that routinely accommodate large crowds.

Any units with sub-standard fire-fighting equipment would be required to make improvements within a set period of time. Beijing reported 2,289 fires in the first five months of this year, resulting in 17 deaths, 37 injuries and 7.1 million yuan in economic loss, statistics show.

Beijing had 5,395 fires last year which killed 53 people and injured 92 others. Direct economic losses caused by these fires totaled 31.65 million yuan (4.35 million U.S. dollars).

People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/