Two years after a tragic fire incident at Yingcai School dormitory in Fangcheng County, Henan Province, where 13 people lost their lives, the official investigation report was finally released on December 17. According to the report, the fire was caused by a primary school student using a lighter inside the dormitory, igniting clothing and bedding, leading to the fatalities. Additionally, 25 individuals were punished for inadequate supervision and management.
The investigation report from the Henan Provincial Fire Rescue General Brigade, published on their official website, stated that the fire originated in Room 305 on the third floor of the dormitory where 19 bunk beds and 2 single beds were located.
It was revealed that a primary school student in the dormitory attempted to burn a loose thread on their bedding using a lighter, setting fire to nearby items like bags and clothes, which rapidly spread and resulted in a major fire.
The report also exposed several violations at Yingcai School. The school operated without the required “Registration Certificate for Private Non-Enterprise Units” and housed a significantly higher number of students in dormitories than allowed by regulations. Furthermore, lax daily management practices failed to detect the presence of lighters brought by students onto the school premises. Inadequate evacuation measures were highlighted, as there was a delay in alerting authorities and extinguishing the fire, and no effective plan for evacuating students from Room 305. Safety exits were obstructed by furniture, and fire prevention facilities like rooftop water tanks and indoor fire hydrants were found to be non-functional.
According to reports by CCTV News, 25 responsible individuals were subjected to “serious disciplinary measures” by the Henan Provincial Discipline Inspection and Supervision Commission for their negligence and lack of supervision. The school officials involved in the case are due to face trial for their role in the serious safety incident.
The official disclosure of the investigation report sparked outrage and questioning among netizens. Many demanded transparency regarding the specifics of the punitive actions undertaken against the 25 individuals and urged for public scrutiny to ensure accountability. Some expressed frustrations over the delayed justice and the harmful impact of corruption within the system.
Additionally, there were claims from some sources stating that the fire could have been caused by aging air conditioning wiring, with locals expressing disbelief over the delays in publicizing the incident despite it occurring over a year ago. The tragic loss of young lives in the dormitory fire has left a lasting impact on the community, calling for stringent measures to prevent such disasters in the future.
Family members of the deceased students lamented the lack of written investigation reports provided by government authorities at all levels, with information regarding the incident and its causes solely communicated verbally by officials, prohibiting any audio or video recordings. They were informed that due to involving “minors”, certain details were not to be disclosed to them.
Furthermore, reports from Kankan News revealed that after the incident, many grieving parents who rushed to the school were required to sign agreements before being allowed to see their children’s remains. The agreements demanded compensation payments from the school to cover various costs, including funeral expenses and emotional support, but also required families to waive their rights to seek legal recourse and maintain confidentiality. The distressing circumstances forced the families to reluctantly agree to the terms in order to bid their final goodbyes to their loved ones.