BEIJING -- China pledged efforts to strengthen fire prevention and control to curb major fire accidents from occurring, the National Fire and Rescue Administration said Friday.

Since October, 77,000 fires have been reported nationwide, killing 169 people, injuring 256, and causing direct property losses of 510 million yuan (about $70.89 million), Wang Wei, an official with the administration, told a press conference.

The country's comprehensive fire and rescue forces have handled 240,000 cases, rescuing about 24,000 people since October. The number of firefighting tasks gradually turned to an upward trend from the third quarter, Wang said.

Wang noted that China's fire and rescue departments have conducted full chain regulation on electric bicycle safety hazards while carrying out the investigation and rectification of fire hazards in key places such as shopping malls, markets, schools, hospitals, warehouses and logistics, and self-built houses.

The administration will continue strengthening risk assessment and guiding the fire and rescue forces to improve the disposal of forest and grassland fire risks.