Guangdong report blames careless mosquito incense use for Shantou fire that killed 12

The Guangdong provincial government has approved the investigation report into the "12·9" fire in Shantou, according to the Guangdong Provincial Emergency Management Department, as reported by China News Service, Xinhua and Jiemian. The provincial government's investigation team concluded that the fire was a major work-safety liability accident caused by careless use of mosquito-repellent incense. Yicai, citing CCTV News, reported that the provincial government published the report on October 16. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]

The fire broke out on December 9, 2025 in a self-built house on Danfeng Road in Xiashan Subdistrict, Chaonan District, Shantou. It burned an area of 150 square meters, killed 12 people and caused direct economic losses of about 406,300 yuan. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]

According to the report, a lit mosquito-repellent incense stick in the reception area of the Yufeng (裕丰) hardware and electrical store on the building's ground floor ignited nearby combustibles. The heat caused lithium-ion batteries stored inside to go into thermal runaway and explode, which set off canned polyurethane foam sealant, bottled butane canisters for cassette stoves, spray paint, rust remover and other hazardous goods. The fire spread rapidly and caused heavy casualties. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]

The investigation found that the store lacked safety management, had not set up safety management systems and had not ensured safe production conditions as required by law. It found that the company Guangdong Jianzhu Xiaofang Sheshi Jiance Zhongxin (广东建筑消防设施检测中心有限公司), in a field assessment of fire hazard remediation in key areas, failed at every level of the assessment process and produced a report that was seriously distorted overall. The housing and urban-rural development bureaus of Shantou and Chaonan did not actively and fully deal with construction carried out without permits, and the Shantou fire rescue detachment and Chaonan fire rescue brigade did not effectively carry out a fire-safety campaign at "three-in-one" premises or strictly check the third-party assessment results. The report also faulted other district departments and said the Party committees and governments of Shantou and Chaonan had not fulfilled their territorial responsibility for fire safety management. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]

The company and responsible persons have been transferred to judicial authorities. Leads and materials on problems in the performance of duties by public officials of local governments and departments, found during the investigation, have been handed to discipline inspection and supervision commissions. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]

The investigation team made eight recommendations, including tightening the responsibilities of all parties, a campaign on self-built houses, strengthening grassroots fire governance, using technology to improve fire prevention, upgrading emergency rescue facilities and expanding public education. [ 2 , 4 ]