Nine people were injured in a fire at a barbecue restaurant in Sanchong District, New Taipei City. Lawmakers urge a review of the frequency of inspections of high-risk places.

A fire broke out at the "Yu Poo Smile" barbecue restaurant in Sanchong District, New Taipei City on the 20th, causing nine injuries. City Councilor Peng Jiayun said that a family of five jumped from the second floor to escape. The store has had three fire alarms in four years. However, the fire department said that a random inspection of fire equipment in May last year was in compliance with regulations. The city government should review the improvement measures, escape routes and the safety of barbecue equipment after previous fires. The Fire Department said that the Fire Department has always been strict about the security inspection of business premises. Since the place was listed under management in 2020, it has completed maintenance declarations and re-inspections in accordance with regulations every year, and has conducted fire safety re-inspections in accordance with regulations.

Peng Jiayun pointed out that the store had fire records in 2023 and 2024. The fire bureau should explain the causes of previous fires, security inspection records and improvements made by the operators, and clarify whether the follow-up tracking mechanism has been implemented. Passing the inspection of fire protection equipment does not mean that the business premises is risk-free. The fire bureau should increase the frequency of inspections and review the current security inspection system for high-risk places where fires have occurred multiple times.

In addition, Peng Jiayun said that long-term use of high-temperature ovens, grease, smoke exhaust pipes and tabletop materials may increase the risk of fire. The fire bureau and the Economic Development Bureau should jointly review the safety and maintenance of ovens, tabletop materials, smoke exhaust and gas equipment, and strengthen the frequency of unwarranted inspections for high-risk business locations; fire security inspections cannot just look at the drawings to determine that the site has safe escape conditions. They should re-compare the approved drawings with the actual situation to avoid that the escape equipment will be ineffective when a fire occurs.

The fire department responded that the first fire in the place occurred in November 2023, when a customer accidentally ignited the fire while barbecuing at the dining table. The second fire occurred in July 2024 due to the accumulation of grease, heat accumulation and smoke in the exhaust hose under the dining table. The fire point on September 20 was located near the bottom of the dining table. It was initially determined that the oil stains were ignited by contact with the fire source or high temperature. The exact cause still needs to be clarified.

The Fire Department said that it will increase the frequency of inspections of barbecue restaurants with high risk of fires. Subsequent public security teams will conduct joint inspections of such places. In addition, for those places with evacuation equipment, the Fire Department will also timely guide employees to familiarize themselves with the operation and check whether there are obstacles in the operating space around the evacuation equipment that will affect their use.