Authorities in Guangdong province have escalated fire safety measures following a concerning increase in forest fires triggered by illegal fireworks usage. The provincial emergency management department reported multiple wildfire outbreaks across Wuhua county in Meizhou on February 16, all originating from villagers discharging fireworks near forested zones. Although these particular incidents were contained without casualties, they revealed systemic vulnerabilities in current prevention frameworks.
The provincial forest fire prevention headquarters convened an emergency video conference on Saturday, mandating comprehensive reforms to break the cycle of recurrent outbreaks. Officials have been directed to strengthen accountability mechanisms and address underlying weaknesses in fire management systems. The new strategy emphasizes intensified source control through systematic risk inspections and specialized operations targeting unlawful fire use.
Simultaneously, the initiative expands public education campaigns across multiple channels to disseminate fire prevention legislation and safety knowledge. Local governments are enhancing emergency preparedness through refined contingency planning, regular drills, and developing integrated monitoring systems combining aerial, spatial, and ground surveillance technologies. Supervision protocols will feature immediate rectification orders with follow-up inspections to ensure implementation efficacy.
This regulatory tightening follows tragic fireworks accidents in Jiangsu and Hubei provinces during the Spring Festival period, claiming 20 lives total. The State Council Work Safety Committee consequently issued national directives strengthening oversight throughout fireworks supply chains, particularly regarding sales and discharge activities. Multiple provinces including Liaoning have implemented stringent new regulations prohibiting hazardous practices near retail locations and establishing strict customer capacity limits.
Several regions have introduced public reward programs encouraging citizen participation in identifying illegal activities. Zhangzhou city and Xiapu county in Fujian province are offering financial incentives for reporting violations, while Inner Mongolia has established reward tiers ranging from 3,000 to 300,000 yuan for tips leading to penalties.