Fire in Prefabricated Panel Houses

When fires occur in prefabricated panel houses, it is essential to focus on issues such as electrical hazards, lack of fire safety facilities, and weak safety awareness among residents. Based on case studies, the following measures can be taken:

1. Inspection and Rectification of Electrical Circuit Hazards
Prefabricated panel houses, often built in earlier times, commonly suffer from aging electrical circuits. For example, in a fire incident in Pengzhou, Sichuan, the ignition point was a fault in the electrical circuit within a living room socket, which ignited surrounding combustibles. It is recommended to regularly inspect circuits for damage, aging, or unauthorized connections, avoid overloading electrical usage, and promptly replace aging equipment. Installing residual current protective devices and circuit breakers can reduce the risk of fires caused by short circuits.

2. Improvement of Fire Safety Facilities
Both cases highlighted the lack of firefighting equipment: the Pengzhou residence was only equipped with portable dry powder fire extinguishers, while the Daying County residence had no fire safety facilities at all. Prefabricated panel houses should be equipped with at least fire extinguishers and standalone smoke detectors, and ensure that evacuation routes are clear. If possible, install simple fire hydrants or add outdoor fire hydrants, especially for standalone residences or older residential areas without property management.

3. Strengthening Residents' Safety Awareness and Emergency Response Capabilities
The fire in Daying County, caused by the homeowner's careless smoking which ignited bedding, reflects weak fire safety awareness among residents. It is necessary to disseminate fire prevention knowledge through community outreach and drills, such as prohibiting smoking in bed, regulating the use of open flames, and regularly clearing balcony clutter. Additionally, develop a family fire escape plan, clarify evacuation routes, and conduct regular drills to improve emergency response speed.

4. Enhancing Protection Based on the Structural Characteristics of Prefabricated Panels
The floor slabs and roofs of prefabricated panel houses are often made of hollow slabs or prefabricated components, which are prone to structural collapse under high temperatures during fires. In the event of a fire, prioritize evacuation and avoid blindly returning to the scene to retrieve items. Daily防火 (fireproofing) measures can include applying fire-resistant coatings or adding fire-resistant partitions to the joints of prefabricated panels to slow the spread of fire.

5. Promoting Renovation and Supervision of Older Houses
The government should strengthen fire safety supervision of prefabricated panel houses, such as incorporating electrical circuit renovations into older residential area renovation plans and mandating the installation of basic fire safety facilities. For residences without property management, communities or街道办事处 (sub-district offices) can take the lead in establishing fire safety inspection systems to regularly identify hazards and督促 (urge) rectifications.

By implementing these measures, the risk of fires in prefabricated panel houses can be effectively reduced, ensuring the safety of residents' lives and property.