BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- A total of 46,653 fires broke out in China in the first seven months of the year, leaving 399 people dead and another 258 injured, the Ministry of Public Security said Wednesday.
The number of fires and the death toll saw year-on-year declines of 49.8 percent and 54 percent, respectively, according to a press release from the ministry.
The fires brought direct economic losses of 830 million yuan (130.4 million U.S. dollars), down 43.8 percent from last year.
Chinese firefighting forces saved 75,859 civilian lives, but 11 firefighters died during the period.
The country's firefighters have also inspected more than 2.89 million factories, companies and households in a fire control campaign that kicked off on June 19, eliminating more than 1.35 million potential hazards.
According to the ministry, a fire control system has been established in more than 14,000 villages and towns, which has contributed to the declines in both deaths and economic losses.
The ministry urged police forces at all levels to coordinate with social organizations to conduct an overall inspection for fire hazards and dangers in order to reduce fires and provide a better environment for the upcoming 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.