As most fires occur in suburban areas, authorities have launched a citywide campaign to raise awareness of fire control among suburban residents - through entertainment.

Cross-talk, short plays, dancing and singing are part of the campaign, as well as standard educational materials.

The Shanghai Fire Control Bureau launched the program in the Nanhui District yesterday, and it will cover the city's suburban districts and run for several months.

According to the bureau, there were 3,131 blazes in suburbs last year, resulting in 35 deaths, 58 injuries and 14.1 million yuan (US$1.7 million) in economic losses.

The suburban fires accounted for 72.6 percent of the total last year.

Officials said that six of seven major fires last year occurred on the outskirts.

In the first three months this year, suburban areas witnessed 802 blazes, 69.4 percent of the total, causing 13 deaths, 2 injuries and 2.36 million yuan in damages, said Zhou Meiliang of the Shanghai Fire Control Bureau.

"Alarmed by the serious situation, we decided to carry out the publicity campaign through entertainment shows in local suburbs," he said.

About 800 residents yesterday watched educational shows on fire prevention and control.

(Shanghai Daily April 20, 2006)