Firefighters urge caution over burnt offerings on Chinese Ghost Festival

Firefighters said Wednesday there were around 70 small fires in the capital over a 24-hour period caused by residents burning fake paper money for Ghost Festival.

The firefighting authority issued a warning via their microblog Wednesday, warning residents to be cautious about where and when they burn paper offerings, and also ensure the flames are out before they leave the area.

The Ghost Festival, which fell Wednesday, the 1st day of the 10th lunar month, is one of three in the lunar calendar. People will burn offerings in the 10 days before and after the day, and at this one, they will often burn paper clothes to keep the spirits warm in winter.

Xia Chunlei, director of the media center of the Beijing Firefighting Bureau, confirmed firefighters were called to extinguish almost 70 small fires up to 8 am Wednesday, but he refused to comment further.

We Recommend:
Heavy snowstorm wreaks havoc in China	Celebrative activities on Single's Day	Body painting show attracts public's view
Flash mobs dance 'Gangnam Style'	Wedding ceremony or photography contest?	Beautiful scenery of Tachuan Village
Civil servants,the happiest job?	Sexy models and fancy cars rock auto show	Exciting performance on motorcycle