This year is the Year of the Fire Horse in China, and various accidents have occurred during the Chinese New Year period. On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year (February 21), a forest fire broke out in Wutai Mountain, Shanxi Province, and on the same day, forest fires also occurred in several other places in the country. In the early morning, a stove at the Temple of the God of Wealth in Shanghai was burning and needed professional firefighters to extinguish it. The temple responded by saying it was “watering to cool down,” sparking mockery from netizens.
According to reports from Chinese media such as Xinhua News Agency and Jí Mù News, a large number of tourists lined up to “welcome the God of Wealth” at the Wuye Temple in Wutai Mountain, Xinzhou, Shanxi, on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year. The scene was crowded, with some tourists starting to line up from the previous night.
A netizen posted a video claiming that Wutai Mountain was on fire, with the fire breaking out near the intersection of Friendship Road in Taihuai Town. Many firefighters rushed to the scene to put out the fire.
On the afternoon of February 22, the Wutai Mountain Scenic Area Sub-bureau of the Public Security Bureau in Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province, issued a notification, stating that at around 15:26 on February 21, a fire was caused by a villager named Shi (male, 40 years old) from Yangbaiyu Village in Taihuai Town when he was offering sacrifices at his ancestor’s grave. The fire did not cause major damage to facilities or injuries to people. Shi has been detained.
According to the official report released by the Emergency Management Bureau of Jingxing County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province on February 22, a forest fire occurred in Nanlu Zhuang Village, Nanwang Zhuang Township, Jingxing County, at 15:45 on February 21. The open flame has been extinguished, no casualties were reported, and the fire was caused by a high-voltage line ignition due to strong winds.
On February 21, a sudden forest fire broke out near the Guanting Service Area in Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province.
Also on the 21st, a forest fire occurred at the Cuifeng Mountain near the Yangquan Expressway in Shanxi.
Netizens in mainland China mocked the incidents: “How big a wish did they make?” “Well, now all dreams of getting rich have been extinguished.” “Temples are not meant for making money.” “The extravagance and wealth from the heavens have been extinguished.” “Their desire for wealth is too strong.” “It seems like everyone is in need of money.”