As holidays approach, the dining industry experiences a peak in consumer activity. Restaurants and food service venues face concentrated risks from fire, electricity, and gas usage. Grease buildup in ventilation ducts is common, and high customer turnover can lead to blocked evacuation routes. Some establishments may also have issues such as unauthorized occupancy, improper electrical wiring, and aging gas hoses, creating overlapping safety hazards.
On April 29, 2025, a major fire broke out at Sanli Chuniang Restaurant in Baita District, Liaoyang City, Liaoning Province, resulting in 22 fatalities and 3 injuries. The direct cause was an unextinguished cigarette discarded by a customer. Wind carried the cigarette through a gap under an aluminum-plastic exhaust duct attached to the exterior wall, igniting garbage—including cardboard boxes—that had accumulated inside. The fire quickly spread due to the flammable aluminum-plastic decorative panels and polystyrene insulation on the building’s exterior.
Earlier, on June 21, 2023, a gas explosion occurred at Fuyang Barbecue’s Minzu Street location in Xingqing District, Yinchuan, Ningxia, causing 31 deaths and 7 injuries. The accident resulted from illegal inspection, operation, and distribution of substandard liquefied petroleum gas cylinders by the involved company, combined with improper handling that led to a leak and explosion. Casualties were exacerbated because no evacuation was organized, the only stairway was blocked by a collapsed wall, and second-floor windows facing the street were sealed and obstructed by a welded steel billboard, severely hindering escape.
With surging customer traffic during peak dining seasons, safety cannot be overlooked. To prevent risks and curb accidents, restaurants are urged to conduct self-inspections based on the following seven safety priorities.
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