China will launch a nationwide fire safety campaign ahead of the Olympics, the Ministry of Public Security said.

According to a circular issued by the ministry on Thursday, all Olympics-related venues would be ensured to prevent fires between April and October, especially during the Games, which open on Aug. 8.

The campaign will target three types of facilities: Olympics-related locations, sports venues and communities. The first category includes the actual sports facilities as well as hotels, hospitals and apartments taking part in homestay programs for the Olympics.

Zhi Shuping, deputy head of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, said, "We will make great efforts to check the safety of Olympics facilities."

Zhi said that his agency would draw up plans for possible emergencies.

(Xinhua News Agency April 12, 2008)