Major fire accidents since the second half of last year have exposed a problem: the persistent issue of illegal use of fire and welding!

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“The several fires mentioned earlier all resulted in severe casualties, especially the fire at Beijing Changfeng Hospital, which severely impacted the safety standards of the public. ”Today, at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office, **Xu Ping, the political commissar of the Fire and Rescue Bureau, said as much. Since the second half of last year, severe fire accidents have occurred in Anyang, Henan; Jinhua, Zhejiang; Cangzhou, Hebei; and Fengtai, Beijing. Xu Ping pointed out that, through analysis, these fires have revealed several common issues: first, the problem of illegal use of fire and welding remains persistent ； Second, the issue of illegal and non-compliant construction is prominent ； Third, there is a lack of safety management for leased factory buildings. Xu Ping said that these fires were all caused by illegal use of open flames or welding operations; the procedures for using open flames were not approved, no protective measures were in place at the work sites, the construction teams did not have the necessary qualifications, the workers were not trained, and no appropriate safety measures were taken on site. Furthermore, in renovation projects, some contractors engage in illegal subcontracting and multiple layers of subletting, resulting in chaotic management at the construction site and increased safety risks. Specifically, the facilities in Anyang, Henan, and Jinhua, Zhejiang are both large-scale buildings that are rented out in a fragmented manner, without any unified management, and there is no coordination between the various enterprises involved. In particular, there are many flammable and combustible materials, which pose serious safety risks; this is a very sobering lesson. In light of the lessons learned from the fire, the **Fire and Rescue Bureau has taken the following main measures: First, it conducts systematic inspections to address major risks and hazards ； Second, carry out extensive publicity through warnings and exposure ； Third is to enhance fire safety governance capabilities. Xu Ping explained that in terms of conducting systematic inspections and rectifications of major risks and hazards, a national campaign titled the 2023 Action for Special Inspections and Rectifications of Major Fire Safety Risks and Hazards was launched. Focusing on three types of venues that are prone to causing mass casualties and having significant social impacts – crowded places, sensitive and special locations, and those with mixed production and business activities – the campaign addressed eight key issues such as illegal welding work, improper use of electrical welding equipment, and the misuse of insulating materials as well as flammable decorations. Measures such as encouraging organizations to conduct self-inspections, organizing inspections at the grassroots level, promoting joint inspections by relevant departments, and intensifying fire safety checks were taken. Strict enforcement measures, requests for regulatory action, public oversight, and credit-based supervision were also implemented to fully eliminate major fire hazards. Furthermore, in improving the capacity for fire safety management, the approach of focusing on major risks while preventing minor ones is adopted. High-risk areas such as high-rise buildings and large commercial complexes, as well as areas with weaker safety measures like self-built commercial buildings, along with new business models and sectors, are all addressed through differentiated supervision, ensuring coordinated prevention across the entire chain, all elements, and the whole process.