According to the Fire Bureau of the Ministry of Emergency Management, as of May 22, 103,000 fires had been reported nationwide, 676 people died, 343 were injured and 1.167 billion yuan in direct property losses. Compared with the same period last year, the number of fires dropped by 20.1%, 4.4%, 15.1% and 29.2% respectively.

Zhang Fusheng, deputy director of the Fire Bureau of the Ministry of Emergency Management, said that since this year, there have been 50,100 fires in urban and rural residential buildings, with 551 deaths, accounting for 81.5% of the total number of deaths. Violation of electrical installation and use regulations is the first cause of fire, accounting for 31.7% of the total number of fires.

Zhang Fusheng emphasized that "small fires killed people" often occurred at night. Although fires from 22 o'clock to 6 a.m. the next day accounted for only 20.5% of the total number of fires, the death toll was 55.5%. Among the 37 major fires, 28 fires occurred from 22 o'clock to 6 a.m. the next day, accounting for 75.7% of the total number.

Zhang Fusheng said that since this year, there have been 429,800 police dispatches, 5.068 million people dispatched, 871,000 vehicles dispatched, an average of 3,027 police operations per day, and an emergency dispatch in less than 30 seconds. A total of 488,800 people were rescued in distress, and the value of rescuing and protecting property was more than 15.1 billion yuan.

In view of the current fire characteristics, the Fire Bureau of the Emergency Management Department has indicated that the summer fire is now in a high incidence period. All trades, systems and units should strictly implement the responsibility system of fire safety, do a good job in fire prevention and control, and strengthen the investigation of high-risk units and major fire risk units to eliminate the hidden dangers of fire. At the same time, we should strengthen the propaganda, education and training of urban and rural residents'knowledge of safe use of power and self-rescue, help the masses to raise their awareness of fire safety, and resolutely prevent and curb the occurrence of serious and extraordinary fire accidents.