Chinese State Councilor Meng Jianzhu (front), who is also Chinese Minister of Public Security, speaks at the second plenary meeting of the 21th session of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, June 29, 2011. Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of NPC, attended the meeting. Chen Changzhi, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC, presided over the meeting. (Xinhua/Fan Rujun)

Meng Jianzhu, minister of public security, made the statement in a report submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the top legislature.

Figures from the report show that the country has more than 370,000 places that require high-level fire safety, but there are only slightly more than 320,000 firefighters and other fire-security workers.

"The fire-control mission is arduous, and (the current firefighting personnel) doesn't meet the increasing demand," Meng said, adding that insurance and working conditions for many local firefighters are not ideal.

Meng said the ministry will also improve an emergency fire control aid command system and boost professional training for firefighters to cope with special fire incidents and other disasters.

In addition, Meng ordered the country's major high-risk groups, including oil, chemical and electric power companies, as well as storage facilities and major infrastructure units to set up their own full-time fire teams.

According to the report, about 398,000 fires occurred in China between 2008 and 2010, resulting in 3,865 deaths and property losses of 5.21 billion yuan (800 million U.S. dollars).

Compared to previous years, the number of fires and the resulting death toll between 2008 and 2010 declined by 37 and 33.8 percent, respectively, whereas property losses jumped by 55.5 percent, the report said.