3 firemen dead in central China fire
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Three firemen died while trying to put out flames triggered by fireworks in central China's Hunan Province Friday night, the local fire brigade said early Saturday.
A hotel and an office building caught fire at 9:20 p.m. following a firework explosion on a downtown square in Chengguan town of Xupu County, a spokesman with the Hunan Provincial Fire Brigade confirmed.
He said 16 firefighters were sent to the scene, of whom three died.
Two residents were injured in the accident.
The Chinese enjoy setting off firecrackers to celebrate the Spring Festival, which falls on Sunday this year. It is believed the loud bangs and sparkles could scare away monsters that according to a folk legend, haunt people in the severe winter.
But the festive explosives trigger disasters every year, ranging from traumas to fatal fires.
Hunan Province is a leading firework production base. The firework that caused last year's fire at the new headquarters of China Central Television in Beijing was also produced in Hunan.
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