On
the morning of November 16, the Information Office of Shanghai Municipality
held a press briefing. Li Weimin, chief of Shanghai Fire and Rescue Corps,
introduced the efforts and achievements on the fifth anniversary of the reform
and transformation of the fire and rescue system in Shanghai. Chen Yongsheng,
deputy chief of Shanghai Fire and Rescue Corps, Shen Weiyong, deputy chief of
Shanghai Fire and Rescue Corps, Tan Xun, chief engineer of Shanghai Fire and
Rescue Corps, and Kong Jiawen, director of the Political Department of Shanghai
Fire and Rescue Corps, attended the press briefing and answered questions from
reporters.

This year commemorates
the fifth anniversary of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s pivotal address on the
national comprehensive fire and rescue team. Over the past five years, the
city’s fire and rescue team has staunchly upheld the noble principles of Xi Jinping
Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, faithfully
embodying the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s crucial guidance. Guided
by the unwavering leadership of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, the
Shanghai Municipal Government, the Ministry of Emergency Management, and the
National Fire and Rescue Administration, the team has made significant strides
in advancing the modernization of Shanghai’s megacity fire management system
and enhancing its governance capacity. The tasks of reform, integration,
transformation, and upgrading of the fire rescue team have been executed with
commendable efficiency. As a result, the construction of Shanghai’s fire
protection work and fire rescue team has experienced comprehensive and profound
changes across all facets. During the five years, the city’s fire and rescue
team responded to a total of 406,000 fire alarms, executing successful rescues
and evacuations that safeguarded 58,000 lives. Their efforts also played a
pivotal role in protecting property valued at approximately 12.26 billion yuan.
These remarkable achievements underscore the team’s unwavering commitment to
ensuring the city’s fire situation remains stable.

Over the past five years, we have steadfastly
aligned ourselves with the overarching goals and effectively advanced the
process of fire protection reform. Firstly, the unwavering support from the
party committee and government has played a pivotal role. The CPC Shanghai
Municipal Committee and the Shanghai Municipal Government have demonstrated
profound concern for the fire rescue work and the development of the fire
rescue team. They have devoted considerable attention to deliberating and
studying key issues related to fire protection reform, with municipal leaders
personally participating in significant events such as the city’s fire and
rescue team flag presentation and oath-taking ceremony, the comprehensive drill
marking the third anniversary of the flag presentation, and the thematic
activities commemorating the fifth anniversary. During major festivals and
crucial junctures, these leaders have led inspections of fire safety, visited
fire commanders and fighters, and provided robust support for the reform and
innovative development of Shanghai’s fire rescue endeavors. Secondly, a
commitment to innovation and the enhancement of the supporting system has been
evident. Shanghai has taken a pioneering nationwide step by revising local fire
protection regulations and formulating provincial-level government documents to
fortify urban public fire safety. Furthermore, a comprehensive set of
reform-supporting documents has been introduced, covering aspects such as fire
law enforcement reform, occupational security for the fire rescue team, the
fire safety responsibility system, and the comprehensive management of fire
safety at the grassroots level. The release of the Shanghai Fire Protection
Special Plan (2022-2035), the establishment of a fire safety professional
committee under the Shanghai Municipal Safe Production Committee, and the
addition of the role of full-time firefighters within the government system all
contribute to ensuring the ongoing reform and development of the fire rescue
team. Thirdly, persistent efforts have been made to surmount challenges in the
reform process. Notable achievements include the successful completion of
institutional transfers and reforms, the abolition and transformation of
institutions, and the reassignment of functions. Concurrently, coordinated
efforts have been made to facilitate the transfer of party organization
relations, improve mass organizations, and address personnel matters. The
recruitment of 3,206 national firefighters in six batches stands as a testament
to our dedication, with 46 commanders and fighters elected as representatives
of the Party, People’s Congress, and CPPCC at both city and district levels.
Every endeavor has been made to zealously advance the implementation of various
reform policies.

Over the past five years, we have consistently
implemented comprehensive policies and expedited the development of a modern
fire management system. First and foremost, there has been a concerted effort
to enhance the responsibility system. Leveraging the coordinating role of the
Fire Safety Professional Committee under the Shanghai Municipal Safe Production
Committee, we have refined the responsibilities, operational protocols, and
working mechanisms of its member units. This includes reinforcing fire dynamic
notification and prevention efforts and advocating for the incorporation of
fire safety considerations in the quarterly review of key municipal and
regional work quality, efficiency evaluations, and other pertinent assessments.
Additionally, the four-category list covering “responsibility, authorization,
supervision, and tasks” for member units of the municipal safe production
committee serves as targeted guidance, ensuring districts and relevant industry
departments enhance fire safety management measures while implementing crucial
fire protection tasks and plans through special indicators. The second focal
point has been the refinement of fire protection laws. Collaborating with the
Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress, we have revised the Shanghai Fire
Protection Regulations and instituted an annual monitoring and evaluation
mechanism for the Fire Protection Special Plan. The municipal government has
issued and revised key regulations such as the Decision on Strengthening Fire
Supervision and Law Enforcement, Regulations on the Management of Building Fire
Protection Facilities, and Regulations on the Management of Social Fire
Protection Organizations. Additionally, six local standards for management and
five for engineering construction have been formulated and revised, covering
fields such as fire protection Internet of Things, energy storage power
stations, and electric vehicles. Notably, the Construction Requirements for
Full-time Fire Brigades and Micro Fire Stations, edited by the corps, received
recognition as one of the top 10 implementation cases of local standards in the
city. The third major thrust is directed at elevating the quality and
efficiency of supervision. Operating and refining the fire law enforcement
cooperation mechanism with public security, housing and construction, and other
departments, we have integrated two items of fire safety administrative
inspections into the inaugural batch of administrative law enforcement items in
streets and towns. Coordinating the establishment of cross-departmental joint
supervision mechanisms for emerging business types and sectors, we have
implemented standardized fire safety management in pivotal industries such as
rail transit, large commercial complexes, elderly care institutions, and
religious sites. Simultaneously, we’ve expedited digital transformation
efforts, establishing fire protection digital infrastructure and an Internet of
Things platform. This initiative has connected with 2,982 key units and 10.66
million data points citywide, bolstering our capabilities in fire protection
observation, management, and prevention. The comprehensive implementation of
initiatives such as the oversight model using randomly selected inspectors to
inspect randomly selected entities and requiring the prompt release of results,
exemption of penalties for minor violations, and the fire protection
inspection, notification and commitment system for opening of new businesses
has yielded significant results. Notably, 346 cases of minor violations have
been exempted from penalties, resulting in a reduction of penalties totaling
over 1.7 million yuan. Supporting Pudong New Area in the implementation of
reforms like “one certificate for one business” and “one-stop services,” we
vigorously promote activities such as “Improving People’s Satisfaction” and “Good
or Bad Review” for fire law enforcement services. In the 2020 national fire
protection system evaluation, Shanghai’s fire law enforcement environment for
businesses was ranked first. Internally, we concurrently emphasize the
standardized construction of fire protection law enforcement, professional
skills training, and quality and efficiency evaluations of fire protection
supervision. Our unwavering commitment is to enhance our team’s willingness and
ability to identify and solve problems proactively.

Over the past five years, our unwavering focus
has been on advancing the gateway and proactively mitigating fire safety risks
with precision. Firstly, our commitment to ensuring the safety of major events
has been paramount. We’ve fortified the fire safety management of large-scale
gatherings, meticulously refining the 31 fire safety responsibilities of event
organizers, venue managers, and other entities. At critical junctures and
significant events such as the China International Import Expo, celebrations
for the 100th anniversary of the Party’s founding, and the 30th anniversary of
Pudong’s development and opening, as well as various large-scale mass
gatherings, all levels of fire rescue personnel have been on high alert,
strategically stationed at distinct points, and prepared to respond promptly.
Our concerted efforts have been geared towards creating foolproof fire safety
measures. Secondly, a key thrust has been the rectification of hidden dangers
and persistent issues. Anchored by the three-year special rectification action
for fire safety and the 2023 special rectification action for major fire safety
risks and hidden dangers, we’ve led targeted initiatives for the rectification
of key areas, including high-rise buildings, factories and warehouses, rural
self-built houses, and medical care and elderly care facilities. We’ve explored
and refined prevention and control measures in areas such as electric bicycles,
new entertainment venues, and new energy vehicles. In line with the people’s
welfare projects by the Party committee and the government, we’ve worked with
housing authorities in establishing over 1 million electric bicycle charging
piles (interfaces), 4,170 charging and swapping cabinets, and installing fire
protection facilities at 4,991 electric bicycle charging locations in
residential areas. We’ve implemented standardized fire truck passage signs in
more than 13,000 communities and 8,389 key units citywide, guided 2,388
communities in repairing fire protection water supply systems, rectified fire
hazards in 47,900 rural self-built houses, and conducted inspections on over
430,000 social units. This extensive effort resulted in the discovery and
correction of more than 436,000 hidden dangers, effectively controlling fires
in key areas such as electric bicycles and cold storage. Thirdly, our strategy
revolves around fostering a pattern of shared governance and collaboration. We’ve
integrated fire protection law promotion into the city’s “Five Advances” law
popularization plan and expanded the reach of the “Fire Protection Public
Welfare Alliance.” We’ve launched Initiatives such as the “119” Fire Protection
Month, annual “Middle School Student Practical Training Class,” and dedicated
fire protection publicity columns like “119 for urban safety” and “Let’s talk
about fire protection and safety.” We’ve collectively engaged more than 2,000
registered fire protection volunteer service teams and over 560,000 individuals
in the past five years. Our extensive outreach efforts have included 3.6
million fire protection publicity and education training activities, including
evacuation drills and on-site awareness programs. Furthermore, we’ve collected
more than 2,100 fire protection cultural and creative works in six categories,
effectively mobilizing citizens to actively participate in and prioritize fire
protection initiatives.

Over the past five
years, our steadfast commitment has centered on practical orientation, aiming
to enhance our prowess in successfully executing firefighting and rescue
operations. Our strategic initiatives have primarily focused on bolstering
command and dispatch efficiency, implementing crucial advancements in
technology to assess fire risk indices in a megacity, and innovating
comprehensive auxiliary decision-making systems. Concurrently, we have worked
diligently to refine fire alarm command procedures, response mechanisms, and
disposal processes. To fortify our expertise, we’ve undertaken the recruitment
of 214 dedicated full-time and part-time instructors, 119 technical experts
spanning various industry fields, and 99 specific zone response commanders.
This concerted effort has significantly enriched our firefighting and rescue
expert database, enabling us to implement segmented response strategies and
localized command structures. The second pivotal facet of our transformative
journey has been the advancement of real-scenario training. Our focus has been
on constructing a formidable firefighting and rescue force system comprising
pioneering groups, pioneering squads, and pioneering teams, including the
establishment of a high-standard professional firefighting and rescue team. Our
attention to detail extends to five critical tasks: familiarization research,
initial planning, initial drills, drill reviews, and real-scenario training,
all contributing to a robust program of practical training. In tandem, we’ve
prioritized scientific and technological auxiliary support. Through the
promotion of 24 digitalization projects, covering four aspects such as indoor
individual soldier positioning, water flow sensing at the end of water cannon,
night imaging, and integrated radio communications, we’ve harnessed the power
of technology to elevate our capabilities. The implementation of a combat
command support platform, based on online unified management, has supported the
reform to ensure quick response to fire alarms, swift dispatch to the scene,
rapid initiation of operations, and prompt execution of rescue efforts and fire
suppression, resulting in a 1 minute and 10-second reduction in the average
arrival time. An emergency communications team has been established and
operationalized, significantly enhancing the effectiveness of emergency
response, dispatch, command, and communications support for disasters and
accidents. Moreover, we’ve dedicated efforts to fortify the basic guarantee for
fire protection. This involves the revision and reinforcement of municipal
administrative normative documents pertaining to the construction of fire
protection infrastructure. The city’s more than 73,000 municipal fire hydrants
have maintained an impressive intactness rate of over 98%, and we’ve added 45
new fire rescue stations (a 30% increase). Additionally, 11 urban municipal or
district-level emergency equipment and material warehouses have been newly
constructed or subject to repair and renovation. The fleet of firefighting vehicles
has been updated to include over 600 vehicles and more than 550,000 pieces
(sets) of equipment. Notable additions include advanced equipment such as
500-ton fire boat, 101-meter aerial platform vehicle, and large smoke exhaust,
fire-extinguishing robots.

Over the past five years, we’ve steadfastly
embraced the principles of Party building, meticulously shaping a devoted and
capable team. Our primary focus has been the cultivation of a culture of
continuous learning and industrious dedication. We’ve directed our efforts
towards the delivery of high-standard, high-quality education centered around
themes such as “never forget the original intention and keep the mission in
mind,” comprehensive study of Party history, and the implementation of Xi
Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.  Additionally, we conducted regular education
on ideals, beliefs, loyalty, mission, and vocational aspects. This commitment
ensures the perpetual inheritance of the illustrious tradition and
distinguished ethos of the former public security fire brigade. Consequently,
the Four Consciousnesses of team members have been significantly fortified,
their Four Confidences strengthened, leading to the successful realization of
the Two Upholds. Over the past five years, our Corps has earned commendations
at the provincial or ministerial level, as well as awards of second-class merit
or above, with 112 groups and individuals recognized for their exemplary
contributions. Our second strategic focus has been on the development of joint
Party building initiatives. Spearheading the introduction of the Flame Blue
Party Building Cloud Platform for the national fire rescue team, we have
initiated themed education, joint training, sending officials to serve
temporary positions at each other’s unit, joint law enforcement, and
collaborative exercises within the Yangtze River Delta Integrated Demonstration
Zone fire rescue teams. Pioneering mechanisms, such as hierarchical assistance
in party organization building and cross-level joint Party building, have been
established, garnering repeated accolades as innovative cases of Party building
from the National Fire and Rescue Administration and municipal government
agencies. Our third area of emphasis, talent incubation, has yielded
significant results. Prioritizing the identification and nurturing of talent,
we established talent cultivation studios, notably the Fugen Fire Investigation
Technology Center. Through the recruitment of 279 dedicated talent cultivation
instructors, we provided training to 1,361 trainees in various groups. Over the
past five years, a total of 356 individuals successfully passed the review of
intermediate and advanced professional and technical qualifications. Our team
has published over 700 papers in various journals, participated in the
compilation of nearly 30 national and provincial standards, regulations, and
teaching materials, and successfully completed 76 scientific and technological
cooperation tasks. Notably, five projects received provincial and ministerial
level awards, while 13 projects were commended at the department and bureau
level for scientific and technological innovation.

In the forthcoming phase, the city’s fire and
rescue team is resolute in aligning with the principles of Xi Jinping Thought
on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Our commitment is to
embody the essence of the precept, emphasizing loyalty to the Party, strict
discipline, unwavering dedication to confronting challenges, and wholehearted
service to the people. In tandem, we are dedicated to benchmarking the
imperatives and developmental trajectory of Chinese-style modernization, with a
keen focus on Shanghai’s strategic positioning encapsulated in Four Priorities,
Four Functions, and Five Centers. Adhering to the loftiest standards, the
strictest requirements, and a commitment to delivering optimal service, our
team pledges unremitting efforts to stabilize and control fire situations. We
are steadfast in our determination to uphold the emergency response bottom
line, providing an unwavering fire safety guarantee crucial for the secure and
stable operation of Shanghai as a mega city.