An e-commerce delivery rider in Binchuan County, Dali Prefecture, Yunnan, noticed flaming foam boards inside an elevator, removed his shoes to smother the fire, and rescued a trapped, immobile person. Police arrested a resident who had ignited the foam with a lighter.

Social Context

Foam board combustion poses severe fire risks in enclosed residential spaces due to high toxicity and rapid flame spread—prohibited under China’s Fire Control Law for use in interior decoration. Local enforcement of fire safety standards in older multi-story buildings remains inconsistent, especially in county-level cities where retrofitting lags behind construction growth.

Safety Tip

Never use footwear or clothing to extinguish electrical or chemical fires; instead, evacuate immediately and activate emergency alarms—only use Class A fire extinguishers for combustible solids like foam.