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Sprinklers out of action when CCTV tower burned

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Fire-fighting systems were not working in the brand new CCTV tower one year ago when it burst into flames, investigators revealed for the first time.

The new CCTV tower bursted into flames one year ago.[File photo]

The national television network and its contractors had failed to fix broken emergency sprinklers and neglected to carry out various other tasks that would have made the fire control systems operational, Beijing Times quoted local prosecutors as saying on Monday.

The paper also said water pumps failed during the fire because contractors had violated safety procedures and drained reserves of fire-fighting water to use for construction purposes.

The fire, which was set off by an ambitious illegal fireworks display organized by then-CCTV officials, consumed both the exterior and interior of the luxury annex on Feb 9, 2009.

The Beijing paper said workers had warned CCTV officials about the malfunction of the building's fire control facilities two months before the fire. Prosecutors said the officials turned a blind eye.

Repair staff had reportedly been fixing the fire pumps inside the 30-storey annex on the eve of the fire but had given up because the work had taken too long to complete, prosecutors said.

They added that contractors had told their workers the fire control systems would not make much difference in the event of a fire.

"Once a fire breaks out in the tower, there is no way the fire pumps can provide enough water to save the building," prosecutors said the workers were told.

The fire started on the roof of the tower after exploding fireworks landed on it. Firefighters with aerial ladders tried to stop the fire from spreading but were hampered by a lack of water because of the previously drained pumps, the newspaper said.

The CCTV fire was one of the gravest infernos in the capital's recent history, causing 160 million yuan ($23.4 million) in damage and claiming the life of one firefighter and seriously injuring eight others.

More than 44 officials and logistics personnel are facing trials in connection to the blaze on charges of causing damage with dangerous materials and neglect of duty.

Xu Wei, a CCTV senior official at the time and the principal suspect in the blaze, could face up to seven years in prison and fines, if found guilty.

Xu has been under criminal detention for almost a year and prosecutors said he may also face corruption charges later in a separate trial.

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