Water town’s home owners under fire

OWNERS of more than 40 private homes being used as short-term accommodation in Zhujiajiao — the renowned tourist water town — have been punished for not registering their service with the police.

The authorities are stepping up security measures as the peak tourist season approaches. In a recent blanket inspection, over 180 irregularities were discovered at the rental homes, most of them involving fire risks, police in Qingpu District said.

“Electric fire dangers and shortage of fire extinguishers were common problems, and tourists smoking inside could easily cause fire in those brick-and-wood structured houses,” said the vice head of Zhujiajiao Police Station surnamed Shi. “Almost all of them don’t possess business licenses to operate as hotels.”

The owners were detained up to 15 days and fined up to 1,000 yuan (US$145) besides being asked to correct fire irregularities. “Some owners had been detained two or three times before,” Shi told Shanghai Daily.

Elsewhere in Zhujiajiao Town, Qingpu police and the town’s government have since the beginning of this year renewed about 580 pieces of fire detector equipment and replaced or added about 100 fire extinguishers in more than 200 shops located in the tourist area of the town.

Police said they had discovered about 790 irregularities from 960 public venues in and around the tourist area during fire inspections since January.