春节期间燃放烟花爆竹是一种民间习俗，不少居民把它作为年味儿里的一道“佳肴”。但是近年来因燃放炮竹而引发的火灾频频发生，人们对此争执不休。主张禁放的主要理由是，城市人口密集，燃放鞭炮引发火灾，伤害人身，浪费资源，污染环境；反对禁放的主要理由是，春节燃放鞭炮是我国传统习俗，没有鞭炮声少了节日气氛。

During the seven-day Spring Festival holiday, more than 11,000 fireworks-related accidents occurred across the country, causing 40 deaths and 37 injuries.

The accidents included a conflagration that burned down the tallest building in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province.

Fireworks also caused a devastating fire two years ago in Beijing that consumed an unfinished office building for China Central Television.

Li Yanjun, an officer from the Fire Department at the Ministry of Public Security, says cities are no longer suitable for setting off fireworks.

"With new buildings being constructed, denser populations and a higher concentration of buildings in cities, there are an increasing number of dangerous factors when setting off fireworks. Large-scale fireworks should be set off by the government, and people should only watch the fireworks."

In Beijing, two people were killed and 388 injured by firecrackers during the Spring Festival holiday.

Fireworks have also come at a serious environmental cost, filling the air with high levels of sulfur and thick smoke and pushing up air-pollution levels for days in large cities.

China banned fireworks in large cities in the early 1990s but lifted the ban years later following complaints that the government decree was ending a traditional way of celebrating the Spring Festival.

Although local authorities have designated fireworks areas, they are by no means a guarantee of safety.

Beijing resident Lu Xiwu says some people ignore the areas and time limits for setting off fireworks, while others light powerful firecrackers that are illegal.

"The restriction doesn't work at all. Fireworks can be heard at any time. You never know when they're coming. Many illegal fireworks are produced. They are substandard and not safe."

The Chinese tradition of setting off firecrackers and fireworks dates back a millennium. Today, people loosely subscribe to the ancient belief that firecrackers scare off evil spirits. The debate over whether these explosives should be allowed in modern society has continued for at least two decades.

Perhaps when the majority adopts a reasonable way of their own free will to celebrate the Lunar New Year will relevant laws and regulations be applicable.

For CRI, I'm Zhao Jianfu.

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