Official calls for more fire drills

A senior public security official on Friday said more should be done to raise awareness of fire escape skills among the public to prevent casualties.

Lack of emergency escape skills have been blamed for 80 percent of fire deaths in China in recent years, said Li Wei, deputy minister of public security, at a televised meeting on fire prevention.

Such knowledge needs disseminated to all citizens, and staff working in fire prevention should be properly trained, Li said.

Li also called for vigilance in petrochemical facilities and densely-populated places, which are more likely to see mass fire casualties.

Fires killed 1,582 people and injured 1,065 last year, according to the ministry. Endi