CCTV staff blamed for fire tragedy

By Cui Xiaohuo | China Daily | Updated: 2009-02-11 07:43

CCTV staff blamed for fire tragedy
A view of the capital's fire-ravaged Mandarin Oriental Hotel, which was set to open shortly, yesterday. A fireman died trying to control the blaze on Monday that damaged part of the Central China Television's hypermodern complex. [Agencies]

Staff at China Central Television (CCTV) started the tragic blaze that engulfed their $714 million headquarters on Monday night, Beijing fire authorities concluded yesterday.

Beijing fire control bureau said CCTV officials illegally hired a fireworks squad to shoot hundreds of huge firecrackers above the new construction site.

They had even set up four camcorders to record the grand display against the backdrop of the architectural wonder of Beijing's central business district.