China to enhance fire prevention, control

BEIJING, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- China pledged efforts to strengthen fire prevention and control to curb major fire accidents from occurring, the National Fire and Rescue Administration said Friday.

Since October, 77,000 fires have been reported nationwide, killing 169 people, injuring 256, and causing direct property losses of 510 million yuan (about 70.89 million U.S. dollars), Wang Wei, an official with the admin