This is a list of notable fires in China, part of the series of lists of disasters in China.

This list includes British Hong Kong and Manchukuo.

Structural fire

Entertainment venues

Particularly fires in theatres and night clubs.

Date/location Name Deaths, Injured Description
18 February 1977, Khorgas, Xinjiang 61st Regiment Farm fire 694, 161[1] A war movie was being shown at a hall during the Chinese New Year. A child set off a firecracker and ignited wreaths for the late Mao Zedong, which for over five months no one dared to dispose of. Most deaths were the children of the regiment at their military-agricultural colony.
26 February 1937, Andong (now Dandong), Manchukuo Manchurian Dance Club fire [zh] 650, 28 During a play, fire spread from a stove in the backstage room to the ceiling, which quickly spread to the lobby. A latch on the main entrance prevented attendees from escaping.
26 February 1918, Hong Kong Happy Valley Racecourse fire 614 A horse racing grandstand collapsed and knocked over food stalls.
8 December 1994, Karamay, Xinjiang Karamay fire 325, 130[2] Students were entertaining visiting officials at a theatre. When the fire broke out, students were ordered to remain seated to allow officials to walk out first.
25 December 2000, Luoyang, Henan Luoyang Christmas fire 309, 7[3] Sparks caused by welders triggered a fire in the basement, construction workers and nightclub patrons were trapped in the upper floors of the building.
27 November 1994, Fuxin, Liaoning Yiyuan Disco fire [zh] 233, 4 A sofa caught fire from a lit cigarette and newspaper, the fire spread and the buildings quickly collapsed. One of the escape doors was locked, which contributed to the high death toll.

Non-entertainment venues

Most fires from 1949 to 1979 were not notable due to lack of records.

Date/location Name Deaths, Injured Description
6 January 1878, Tianjin Baosheng Soup Kitchen fire 2000[4] The gate of the soup kitchen was always locked to prevent the hunger from causing social unrest, which prevented evacuation in case of fire.
February 1975, Haicheng, Liaoning Haicheng earthquake 341, 980[5] The earthquake evacuees lived in self-made tents, which caught fire.[6]
15 February 1959, Yanyuan, Sichuan Longtang Reservoir fire (under-construction) 197, 86[7] Fire started when all the staff were attending a meeting.
5 January 1960, Tongren, Guizhou Tongren Airport fire (under-construction)[8] 175, 5 A fire broke out during construction at the Tongren Fenghuang Airport. It is the deadliest airport fire in China.
8 January 1965, Yuli, Xinjiang Second Tarim Field fire 172, 10[9] Most of the deaths were sent-down youth from Shanghai in the 35th Regiment at their military-agricultural colony.[10]
16 June 2002, Haidian district, Beijing Lanjisu internet cafe fire 25, 13 Disgruntled youngsters set fire to a crowded two-story internet cafe in Beijing's university district after being banned. This was the deadliest fire in Beijing in more than 50 years.

Forest fire

Date/location Name Deaths, injured Description
May–June 1987, Heilongjiang Black Dragon fire 193, 226 Bureaucratic leadership led to the extremely slow response to the fire.[11][12][13][14]

Urban conflagration

Main articles: Fires in Jiankang, Fires in Hangzhou, and Fires in Chongqing

Over the history of China, three cities stood out to have suffered from repetitive urban conflagrations, including, Jiankang during the Northern and Southern dynasties, Hangzhou during Song dynasty and Chongqing between late Qing and the early republic.[15][16]

See also

References

  1. ^ "一九七七年 六十一团那场大火" [The great fire to the 61st Regiment in 1977]. Yili Evening News. 2007-02-26. p. B06. Archived from the original on 2022-01-09.
  2. ^ 张悦 (2006-12-21). "一个轮回后的真相 1994－2006年：克拉玛依大火". 南方周末. Archived from the original on 2022-01-04 – via Sohu.
  3. ^ "洛阳商厦特大火灾公审". Sina. 2001. Archived from the original on 2001-11-07.
  4. ^ 李文海. "光绪3年天津粥厂大火事件:保生粥厂不"保生"". 中国文化报. Archived from the original on 2021-12-16.
  5. ^ 颤抖的地球—地震科学 (2005). Researched by CEA seismologists 冯万鹏,薑文亮,龚丽霞,公茂盛,胡进军; Revised by CEA seismologists 王文清,续春荣,张宝红; Edited by CEA chiefs 谢礼立,张景发. Tsinghua University Press. Pages XIII, 162.
  6. ^ Photos of such tents taken in 1976 can be found in: 吴彦君 (2012). "我家的防震棚" [The earthquake tents at my home]. In 阿滢 (ed.). 秋缘斋读书记. 天地出版社. Archived from the original on 2022-01-01.
  7. ^ Editorial Department (2009). "劳动保护安全生产60年大事记(一)(1949-1959)" [60 Years of Labor Protection and Safety in Production (1) (1949-1959)]. 劳动保护杂志 [Journal of Labor Protection] (9).
  8. ^ 赵幼立 [Zhao, Youli] (2002). "铜仁机场史话" [History of Tongren Airport]. 文史天地 [World of Literature and History] (10).
  9. ^ "新疆生产建设兵团大事记(1965年)". 兵团大事记. 2014-08-21. Archived from the original on 2021-08-15.
  10. ^ 周培兴 (2015-06-02). "上海知青在新疆". Archived from the original on 2022-01-02.
  11. ^ 李伟中; 叶研 (1987-06-24). "红色的警告". China Youth Daily. Archived from the original on 2022-01-02.
  12. ^ 雷收麦; 贾永 (1987-06-27). "黑色的咏叹". China Youth Daily. Archived from the original on 2022-01-02.
  13. ^ 李伟中 (1987-07-04). "绿色的悲哀". China Youth Daily. Archived from the original on 2022-01-02.
  14. ^ 中国青年报著名“三极记者”叶研谈“红色的警告”, 2011-07-07, China Youth Daily. An excerpt was published as ：王婷舒 (2017-05-06). "大兴安岭特大火灾30周年 记者叶研谈"三色报道"". China Youth Daily. Archived from the original on 2020-01-15.
  15. ^ 麻庭光 (2010-11-01). "重庆为何难成都？". 科學網. Archived from the original on 2022-01-02.
  16. ^ 魏华仙 (2014). "宋代灾民住房安置略论" (PDF). 四川师范大学学报（社会科学版）. 41 (6): 125–126.
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