China launches fire safety campaign on cultural relics

BEIJING -- China's National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA) and the fire-fighting bureau under the Ministry of Emergency Management have issued a circular to launch a campaign of fire hazard checks and rectification on cultural relics.

The campaign, which starts this month and runs through mid-September, will cover the country's immovable cultural relics as well as collection and preservation sites such as museums and memorials, the NCHA said in a statement Thursday.

A focus will be sites with higher fire risks such as ancient architectural complexes, traditional villages, sites of religious activities and construction sites of cultural relics preservation projects, the statement said.

Also, the campaign will check problems such as electrical failures as well as practices regarding fire use, burning of incense or paper offerings, hazardous items management and conditions of facilities and equipment at these sites, the statement said, noting that loopholes found in the campaign should be properly fixed.

The two authorities will carry out joint supervision during the campaign.