Taipei Mandates Fire Alarms in Mixed-Use Factory-Residential Units After Fatal March Fire

TAIPEI (CNA) — A fire in late March in a mixed-use factory-residential unit in Nangang District, Taipei, resulted in two deaths. Consequently, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an has instructed the Fire Department to ensure that all 38 identified factory-residential units in the city are mandatorily equipped with fire extinguishers, alarms, and other necessary firefighting equipment. The fire occurred in late March in a tin-roof factory near Yanjiuyuan Road, Nangang. Firefighters recovered two bodies from the second floor, suspected to be an elderly couple who rented the factory and lived on the upper level. On the 22nd, during a public safety meeting, Chiang specifically questioned the Fire Department on whether those lacking equipment were being forced to install it. Fire Chief Mo Huai-chu stated that a review has been conducted, noting that response times in mountainous areas were delayed due to long access routes. He pledged to strengthen rescue training and promote the installation of smoke detectors, with subsidies available for those in need. Chiang ruled that for the 38 factories with residential mezzanines, inspections must ensure mandatory equipment like extinguishers and alarms are present. He also demanded a refinement report to improve responses to similar incidents and better evacuation planning for high-risk areas.