Pictures of Beijing’s Changfeng hospital after the deadly fire: on Wednesday, one day after the fire took 21 lives, outpatient service and access to the building was suspended. Photo: Zhang Changyue/GT

The fatal fire that killed 29 people and injured 42 others at Beijing’s Changfeng Hospital this April was a major workplace safety accident caused by illegal operation in renovation, bad management, hidden fire hazards and negligence of duty of the local authorities, said the accident’s investigation team dispatched by the State Council on Wednesday. 

The investigation showed that the fire was caused by sparks from a construction project that ignited volatiles produced by combustible paint, Xinhua News Agency reported. 

The flames and high-temperature smoke generated by the explosion ignited the wooden decorative materials inside the building. Some fire-resistant partitions failed to function as intended, and fixed firefighting facilities became ineffective, leading to the expansion of the fire and the spread of a large amount of smoke.

In addition, the inadequate initial response also led to the poor organization for evacuating and relocating patients on higher floors, which resulted in significant casualties. 

The investigation team identified problems and responsibilities of the local Party committees and government departments, the relevant departments and units. It summarized the main lessons that should be drawn from the accident, and proposed recommendations for corrective and preventive measures. 

The main issue exposed by the accident was a serious negligence of duty by the hospital, unauthorized and illegal operations by the construction company, a lax awareness of major risks by the local authorities, loopholes in administrative approval and safety management of medical and health institutions, defects in the supervision and management of construction project in terms of safety, and inadequate fire risk prevention. 

The investigation team have submitted their findings to China’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. 

Jin Wei, a vice mayor of Beijing and member of the Standing Committee of CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, was held accountable for the fire accident, the China Central Television reported on Wednesday. 

After the tragedy, the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council attached great importance to the accident, demanding to make an all-out effort to treat the injured, properly handle the aftermath work for the deceased, provide support to their families, promptly investigate causes of the fire accident and rigorously pursue the responsibility in accordance with the laws, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday. 

All regions and relevant departments must always stay vigilant about production safety, effectively fulfill their safety production responsibilities, strengthen safety management, thoroughly identify various risks and hazards, and resolutely prevent and control the occurrence of major safety accidents, officials said. 

In regards with the problems exposed by the accident, the investigation team summarized several main lessons to be drawn, including weak awareness of preventing and defusing major risks, lax administrative approval and safety management in the medical and health sector and shortcomings and loopholes in the planning and supervision over construction projects.

Global Times