STAFF members of the Luohu District Public Security Sub-bureau have taken measures to reduce the potential fire hazards in Yulong, Mumianling and Buxin subdistricts, the Shenzhen Evening News reported yesterday.

    These three subdistricts are gathering places of shantytowns. Statistics show that over 100 fire-related accidents have occurred in the three subdistricts over the past decade, and the risk of fire-related accidents in the three subdistricts were evaluated to be as high as 100 percent.

    An accidental explosion that took place in Yulong Subdistrict a week ago once again revealed the severe security risks confronting the public, according to the report.

    In order to deal with the fire risks, Luohu officials are taking different measures. In Yulong Subdistrict, 700 fire extinguishers have been installed, while 18 safety officers and patrollers as well as two part-time fire brigades were designated to keep a close watch on the fire hazards in the community.

    In Mumianling Subdistrict, shops that failed to meet safety standards or lacked full licenses have been closed down.

    “The fire hazards in shantytowns are one of our main concerns. Only by renovating those shantytowns can we radically solve the security problem,” said an official with the Luohu District Public Security Sub-bureau.

    The official also pointed out several reasons for the high risk of fire in shantytowns. First is the illogical planning of shantytowns — the narrow space between the buildings makes it easy for a fire to spread to other nearby buildings.

    Second is the terrain surrounding the shantytowns, with steep slopes and few roads, which blocks the easy access of fire engines. Additionally, the shantytowns in Luohu are not equipped with sufficient firefighting devices, making it difficult to respond effectively to the large-scale fire emergencies.

    (Zhang Yang, Liu Shiyang)