China steps up fire prevention on rental housing, business around campuses

BEIJING -- The Ministry of Emergency Management on Wednesday urged local departments to reinforce fire safety inspections on rental housing units and businesses near campuses.

Deadly fires in rental housing that have killed more than 10 people frequently occurred in recent years, partly due to a lack of fire control facilities, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, businesses around campuses, such as Internet cafes, game rooms and hotels, also pose severe fire hazards for the large flow of people, it said.

The ministry called on related departments to launch a comprehensive inspection on fire safety, shut down rental housing units which accommodate more than 10 tenants but fail to ensure safe evacuation and clean up electric bikes that are illegally parked or charged indoor.

Property owners and property managers should organize fire extinguishing and emergency evacuation drills, carry out fire safety inspections, and maintain fire fighting equipment on a regular basis, the ministry added.