Special Issue on State-of-the-Art Fire Research in China and 30th Anniversary of SKLFS

Excerpt

In May 1987, a severe forest fire in the Greater Khingan Mountains of Heilongjiang Province burnt over 17,000 km² and caused over 200 deaths, shocking the entire nation of China. This wildfire incident emphasized the pressing need to enhance fire safety measures and sparked discussions about establishing a national fire research center in China, given the growing concerns regarding fire safety and the imperative for advanced research in this field. With the strong advocacy of Prof. Weicheng Fan from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), the foundation for establishing a prestigious “State Key Laboratory of Fire Science (SKLFS)” was laid. Following meticulous planning and careful consideration, the construction of the laboratory received official approval and was established in 1989 at USTC, Hefei, marking a significant milestone in its establishment. The groundbreaking ceremony was held in the subsequent year of 1990 when Premier Peng Li inscribed the laboratory’s name. …