Deadly forest blaze in China sparks debate over numbers and training of firefighters
- After 30 first responders died tackling a remote fire in Sichuan, questions are being asked about whether more could have been done to save them
- Experts call for improvements in recruitment and training
Twenty-seven of those who died were firefighters in their early 20s and 30s. Two were only 18 years old, a fact that was highlighted in the widespread public mourning that followed.
Another first responder died in a separate part of the operation, taking the final death toll to 31.
While the deceased were lauded as heroes on social media, others have questioned whether the safety measures put in place were enough to protect the young firefighters, and whether they had adequate training and experience.
The pressure on fire crews was brought into focus over the weekend as Friday’s Ching Ming Festival – a time when people traditionally burn offerings at the graves of their ancestors – led to a spate of accidents that left many firefighters feeling stressed and exhausted.
In one city alone – Tongchuan in Shaanxi province – the local fire brigade was called out to 53 separate incidents between the start of the festival and Sunday morning. Many firefighters worked around the clock.
Worst might be yet to come as Sichuan Provincial Emergency Management Office said the fire in the Muli county that claimed the firefighters’ lives had reignited.