At your doorstep: SZ' s mini fire stations

Shenzhen is reshaping urban fire governance with a community-based model designed for speed and prevention. Through a “1+N” system — combining major fire and rescue centers with neighborhood-level mini stations — the city is building a “five-minute fire response circle” to quickly detect and contain fires.

As of now, Shenzhen operates 557 fire stations, including 103 large-scale rescue stations and 454 mini stations. On

average, there is one fire station per 1.7 square kilometers in built-up areas. This dense coverage has helped slash average response times from nearly 15 minutes in 2019 to about five minutes in 2024.

Mini stations do more than just responding to emergency calls. Dubbed “red houses at your doorstep” by residents, these facilities also handle fire prevention patrols, public education, and community engagement, making them a pioneering model in China’s grassroots fire protection.

A firefighter conducts duty training at the Xili Fire and Rescue Station in Nanshan District on July 15. Photos by Xinhua

A fire truck returns from a call at the Meifeng Mini Fire Station in Futian District on July 15.

Sun Hang (L), station chief, explains fire safety knowledge to children during an open house at the Meifeng Mini Fire Station in Futian District on July 15.