‍The Beijing fire department briefed media on Sunday inside the construction where a deadly fire killed 19 and injured 8 in Daxing District on November 18.

The cause of fire has been confirmed, and pointed to a refrigeration storage in basement one of the building, while the only emergency exit was found being blocked by flammable materials. All 19 people died from smoke and leak of carbon monoxide.

A firefighter who joined the rescue last Saturday told China Central Television (CCTV) in the scene of fire that dense smoke had permeated the whole construction. 

Journalists were still asked to wear a protective suit before they went inside the burnt construction today. The remaining poison can also be smelled.

On Saturday, the Beijing Work Safety Committee also held a press conference, publishing the result of an overall inspection on potential safety hazards and responding to a rumor that the city was dispelling people working in low-end industries.

At the press conference, the committee clarified that the rumor was an irresponsible remark and entirely groundless, and further stressed that the citywide inspection pointed to proprietors who turned a blind eye to regulations and exploited people’s lives.

The committee also briefed the media on the result of the screening in the past week, finding out 25,395 sites in the city were potential fire hazards. Some staff dormitories were found to have been rebuilt or extended with flammable materials while some factories were even converted to apartments for rental, where an excess of tenants were living. Evacuation routes and exits in some villages and express service points were blocked as well, said the committee.

With regard to the question if people’s daily lives were affected in the comprehensive inspection, the committee promised that they will issue a notification to people who are living in a house with latent safety threats before helping them evacuate.

It is said that the full screen will last 40 days in order to completely remove the city’s safety threats. Meanwhile, the committee vowed to develop public awareness of safety as security management is considered as a long-term mission.