BEIJING -- Beijing plans to add 2,200 new members to its firefighting squad before next summer in a move to reinforce safety during the Olympic Games.
The first group of 480 recruits arrived in the capital on Tuesday from their hometowns in Henan, Shaanxi, Heilongjiang, Anhui and Liaoning provinces, according to Wednesday's Beijing Youth Daily.
Another 720 recruits were expected to arrive in three days and join in training that includes English-language study.
The city's total firefighting force is set to reach 6,725 by next August, including the recruits enlisted this year. The force will remain the same size after the Games finish, according to Zhao Zixin, head of Beijing Municipal Firefighting Bureau.
Temporary firefighting stations will be set up at each Games venue.
The city also planned to purchase 120 new fire engines for the Olympics, and a total of 500 fire trucks will safeguard the city next year.
