According to the reports, a fire broke out late at night at a joss-paper shop on Taishan Road in Yilan City, and firefighters rescued 10 people with an aerial ladder, with some taken to hospital in critical condition. In Taichung, six people stranded on the roof of an old hotel building were rescued and taken to hospital.

Late-night fires occur during sleeping hours, making escape prone to delay, and aging buildings often lack fire equipment and escape routes, worsening the damage. These incidents too led to the dangerous situation of people trapped on upper floors.

Firefighters repeatedly urged inspection of buildings' fire facilities, securing of escape routes and caution in handling flame. Everyday prevention is especially important for shops that handle large amounts of flammable goods.

Sinophone Bridge Times conveys this news from the standpoint of safety awareness. As no few Chinese small-business owners live in buildings where shop and home adjoin, we recall together that everyday preparation—keeping fire extinguishers, checking escape routes—is the first step to protecting life.