Ma Zhaofei, head of the firefighting squad, demonstrates firefighting skills to the new team members. Photo: IC

A week after the death of five firefighters who were buried after a warehouse on fire collapsed in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang Province, the safety of the people doing this essential work has become the focus of public attention.

Apart from the controversial orders given by the on-site management which sent the firefighters into the dangerous building, whether or not Chinese firefighters are often too young and inexperienced is a major focus of debate. The youngest firefighter killed in the warehouse was only 18 years old.

Figures from the Ministry of Public Security show that more than 140 firefighters died while carrying out their duties between 2008 and 2012, with the average age of those killed being 24.

On Tuesday, a contingent of 18 firefighters held a firefighting drill in a national forest park in Liancheng, Gansu Province. They were some of the 300 soldiers that had been recruited to the firefighting department only 10 days before. The drill aimed to sharpen the skills of the new firefighters as winter is a particularly busy time for firefighters due to dry conditions.

China has adopted a system in which soldiers serve as the nation's firefighters, differing from  many other countries where firefighting is its own separate profession. As only a tiny proportion of the soldiers are promoted up the military hierarchy and those who aren't have to retire after finishing their two-year term, firefighting squads in China are constantly receiving inexperienced young recruits.

Some experts say that firefighting in China cannot become a professional field, as Chinese firefighters also take on disaster relief responsibilities. Once firefighting becomes a paid profession, they worry that the public will have to pay firefighters much more in order to attract talented personnel.

Still, it is widely agreed upon that Chinese firefighters are entitled to enjoy greater welfare and security than other workers, as well as social recognition.

Global Times

The team of firefighters trek through mountain paths during their drill. Photo: IC

The firefighters march through a forest while training. Photo: IC

 

Firefighters assemble before a day of sharpening their skills. Photo: IC

The firefighting soldiers share their feelings after their first on-site exercise. Photo: IC