Fire dept warns of holiday dangers

Firefighters in the capital have warned of increased risks to safety over the upcoming October 1 National Day holidays, especially as people engage in activities they would not normally do.

According to a press release from Beijing firefighting department Wednesday, in the last five years during the October holidays, firefighters were called to 518 fires and 99 rescues, of which 19 were rescues in mountainous areas of the capital. The frequency of such rescues is increasing.

To ensure firefighters are ready to respond to any emergency during the holidays, the department conducted a mountain and water rescue drill in Huairou district Wednesday morning.

Liu Haiyan, media officer of the department, told the Global Times that the drill serves both as practice for firefighters and as a way to promote safe travel to residents during the holidays.

"There may also be more traffic accidents, as some vehicles can drive toll-free on highways during the holidays," he noted.

Vehicles with fewer than seven seats are free from tolls on highways during four major Chinese holidays - Spring Festival, Tomb Sweeping Day, the May Day holiday and the National Day holidays, according to the Ministry of Transport's website on August 9.

Although outbreaks of fire usually account for the majority of emergencies during holiday periods, the department has attended more mountain rescues in recent years.

"There were seven such rescues during the National Day holidays last year," said Liu.

Qu Hui, a firefighter in the mountainous Huairou district, told the Global Times that there were three rescues of trapped hikers in the district last year during the October holidays, mostly due to travelers going to the undeveloped wild hillsides with no professional climbing equipment.

"In well-developed scenic spots, we usually rescue travelers who accidentally sprained an ankle. But for those who hike in the wild, many of them get lost or injured, some even died," said Qu.

At the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, said Qu, some visitors choose to hike down from the Wall on undeveloped paths, and without a flashlight, they usually get lost in the dark.

As cellphone coverage is unreliable in such areas, travelers should not go to these wild places, Qu remarked.

Zhang Yong, leader of the Blue Sky Rescue Team, said that most emergency cases they deal with during the holidays involve amateur hikers or climbers, or those who go out alone.

"Some travelers even wear high-heeled shoes and short skirts to climb mountains," he said.

A woman fell from a 3-meter-high section of the Wild Great Wall in Huairou on July 23 last year and broke her pelvis. She wore a pair of sandals that day, the Beijing Times reported.

A man surnamed Wang, 59, died after falling into the valley bottom in Beijing Fenghuangling Nature Park, Haidian district on May 29, 2009.

Staff from the Park alleged that the place where the man fell off is not within the park, which means Wang was climbing wild, the Beijing Morning Post reported.

A Beijing resident surnamed Sun, 26, from an IT company, said he planned to go to the wild Great Wall in Huairou during the holidays.

"I think fewer tourists would go there and wild places are more charming," he said.

When asked whether he would take safety measures, Sun said that he would find a local to act as a guide.

Zhang said that he understands people like to visit less crowded places during the holidays.

"But travelers should research the wild areas they want to go to and had better be accompanied by experienced guides," he said.

Liu also suggested travelers should not explore wild places, in case they get trapped and are out of contact.

"When climbing mountains, one should wear proper shoes and bring a compass and a map. Before going out, check the weather forecast and take some warm clothes," he said.