China on public safety alert for Lunar New Year

BEIJING -- On Sunday, the eve of the Lunar New Year, Shanghai downtown resident Wei said he was the 6,403rd person to promise on instant messaging app WeChat not to set off fireworks this year.

Wei's promise echoed many banners and short messages sent to residents by local police calling for no fireworks after a safety regulation was approved at the end of last year to ban fireworks within the inner-city ring area out of safety and pollution concerns.

Chinese authorities are on high alert for public safety as the country embraced the Spring Festival holiday, a joyous occasion also characterized by fireworks, mass celebrations and heavy traffic.

The Ministry of Public Security told police to step up fire safety management and emergency response as the holiday season means an increase in fires and other accidents.

Vice Minister Li Wei urged police departments at all levels to analyze and evaluate fire risks, increase enforcement of fire codes and improve emergency responses, keeping a closer eye on firecrackers, large-scale gatherings, galas and other mass activities.

Ministry data shows the number of people arrested for starting fires increased 124 percent year on year last year thanks to strengthened law enforcement. The ministry described the overall "fire situation" as stable.

However, the statement noted that fire code violations were still prominent in some venues and small but fatal fires occur regularly. It urged local governments to increase funding for fire prevention and control facilities and devices.

In August, two explosions in a warehouse storing hazardous chemicals ripped through nearby residences in Beijing's neighbor Tianjin. The blast claimed 173 lives, including 104 firefighters.

At the beginning of 2016, President Xi Jinping called for measures to stem the frequent occurrence of accidents arising from production safety risks at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.