Heritage | IC enforces measures to prevent temple fires

A blaze occurred in the A-Ma Temple during the 2016 CNY celebrations

The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) is enforcing security measures to prevent fires from occurring in temples in the region. Such measures include safety verification inspections as well as ensuring staff adhere to mandatory safety measures, such as not letting incense sticks burn overnight and turning off electric power at night after the closure of the temple, the IC informed in a statement.

The measures are being enforced due to the beginning of the Lunar Year, which usually sees an increase in the number of people in temples.  During this special season, worshipers follow the traditional customs of lighting incense sticks and performing rituals in temples, namely the burning of votive papers.
During visits from IC inspectors, all temple managers were urged to implement fire safety measures especially diligently during the period of high ash accumulation, and to strictly follow the “Macau Fire Safety Guidelines.”

The guidelines call on managers and staff to ensure incense sticks are not burning and power is turned off, as well as to remove accumulated flammable items and clear all possible causes of fire.

Given the expected increase of visitors during the Chinese New Year break period, the IC advised visitors to respect the heritage sites while visiting them, in order to allow the precious value of the heritage to be enjoyed for years to come.