China saw a decline in the number of major fire accidents during the traditional Spring Festival, or Chinese lunar new year holiday, national police authorities said on Thursday.

Chinese police at all levels have taken a series of measures to prevent fires, Li Shixiong, deputy director of the fire-fighting department under the Ministry of Public Security, said at a press conference.

During the Spring Festival, police across the country handled 6,057 cases caused by fireworks. The number of fire accidents, death and direct property loss saw a decline of 27.3 percent, 40 percent and 83.3 percent from 2004.

From Dec. 2005 to Feb. 2006, the number of major fire accidents, death and direct property loss decreased by 15.3 percent, 21.4 percent and 85.1 percent over the same period of the previous year, during which the Ministry of Public Security carried out a campaign to prevent major traffic accidents, fires and explosion to guard public security.

Li said the ministry has also made progress in reducing the number of major fire hazards listed by the government from 3,920 to 188.

Source: Xinhua