On the evening of September 17th, a sudden fire broke out at a car trading center in Xingtai, Hebei Province, with flames raging and thick smoke billowing into the sky.
Videos posted by several netizens show that a fire occurred at Section C of the Haofeng Car World Automobile Trading Center in the Nanhe District of Xingtai (referred to as Haofeng Auto Trade City). The scene was engulfed in fierce flames and dark smoke rose high into the sky, almost turning the night sky red. Multiple storefronts along the street were devoured by the flames, leaving only the charred frames behind.
According to a report from the Chinese media, “Xiaoxiang Morning News,” affected shop owners recounted that the fire broke out around 19:10 on the 17th and the flames were mostly extinguished around 21:00 that night.
One shop owner mentioned that when the incident happened, he was inside the store working with his employees when they suddenly heard a few loud bangs next door, suspected to be an explosion, which quickly led to the rapid spread of the fire. He stated that his own store was completely burned down, estimating a loss of around four to five hundred thousand, with his workers so frightened they ran out without grabbing anything.
The shop owner also noted that his losses were relatively minor, with others suffering losses of several million. A nearby wedding banquet restaurant and a large supermarket were also affected by the fire.
Reportedly, Haofeng Auto Trade City is a large market that includes storefronts, warehouses, and a variety of highly flammable automotive parts, contributing to the rapid and intense spread of the fire.
According to a report by “Haibao News,” as of 9:00 on the 18th, journalists observed on the map that a section of Heyang Street on the west side of the incident site was temporarily closed to traffic. Many surrounding businesses stated that the fire started around seven to eight o’clock on the evening of the 17th and is now under control. One shop owner mentioned, “The fire was put out around ten o’clock last night, but we still can’t go to work today as there is currently no power,” and added that the nearby area is without electricity temporarily for repairs, with other details unclear.
The report mentioned that according to local authorities, there were no casualties in this incident, and investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.
However, due to the Chinese Communist Party’s habit of concealing information, the situation regarding no casualties is yet to be verified.