Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 247 The Fire of Sin

Wu Zhiyuan rushed to the window in a few steps.

In the distance, towards the warehouse, thick black smoke billowed into a dense column, indicating a large fire that crackled and popped.

"Call the police immediately! Organize self-rescue!" Wu Zhiyuan quickly ordered. "Director Wang, immediately use the broadcast to notify the entire factory to evacuate personnel according to the emergency plan."

The volunteer fire brigade first took fire extinguishers to control the fire on the perimeter, and waited for the main fire department!

Wu Zhiyuan then turned to Shen Yuwei and Gan Simiao: "Secretary Gan, President Shen, for safety reasons, please remain in the office building for now. It's relatively safe here, as it's far from the fire's origin. I'll go check the scene!"

The fire started at a warehouse that is adjacent to a raw material warehouse and a warehouse that is used for packaging materials.

Both warehouses were old-style brick and tile structures, and were filled with a large amount of flammable materials such as malt, cardboard boxes, and plastic packaging, so the fire spread very quickly.

Flames had already reached the roof.

Zhang Junhua led the factory's male employees and volunteer firefighters to connect fire hydrants to hoses and spray water at the flames.

Others were carrying dry powder fire extinguishers and spraying them at the edge of the flames.

However, the fire was too large, and the flames, fueled by the wind, were spreading towards a nearby finished goods warehouse and an old shed where miscellaneous items were stored.

"This won't work! The water pressure isn't enough, and the coverage area is too small!"

After observing for a moment, Wu Zhiyuan decisively called out, "Director Zhang, are there any other water storage facilities in the factory area? For example, a fire-fighting water tank?"

"Yes! There's a spare fire water tank next to the boiler room, but it's quite far away, and the hoses might not be long enough!" Zhang Junhua answered loudly.

Organize a relay race! Use every bucket and basin you can find to pass the bucket or basin by hand!

First, control the fire and prevent it from spreading!

In addition, arrange for someone to guide the fire trucks at the factory gate to ensure the road is clear!

"clear!"

Although the scene was chaotic, it gradually became orderly under Wu Zhiyuan's command.

The workers were divided into several groups. One group continued to use the existing water hoses to extinguish the fire, another group ran to relay water, and yet another group began to clear debris around the fire site that could be ignited and to create firebreaks.

The sirens of the fire trucks grew louder as they approached.

Three fire trucks drove into the factory area.

Professional expertise makes all the difference.

Two high-pressure water guns were used to suppress the main fire in the raw material warehouse, while two other water guns were used to extinguish the flames spreading in the packaging warehouse and the surrounding area.

Meanwhile, team members entered the area surrounding the fire to search and confirmed that no one was trapped.

After nearly an hour of strenuous firefighting efforts, the open flames were basically extinguished, leaving only a few scattered embers.

The fire mainly affected two adjacent raw material warehouses and packaging material warehouses. Some of the building roofs collapsed, and the internal materials were basically destroyed.

The adjacent finished goods warehouse, main workshop, and other important facilities were all intact.

Firefighters began clearing the fire scene, checking for remaining embers, and investigating the cause of the fire.

Standing in a safe spot not far from the fire, Wu Zhiyuan's doubts grew stronger.

Why did the fire break out at the crucial moment when Dingyue Group came to inspect and negotiate the acquisition?

Moreover, it was those packaging materials that were piled up at high prices.

He walked up to a fire commander surnamed Li and asked, "Captain Li, what is the preliminary assessment of the cause of the fire?"

Is it due to aging circuitry, or some other reason?

Captain Li cautiously replied, "Secretary Wu, it's too early to say the reason now; a detailed investigation is needed."

However, judging from the burning traces and the speed of the spread at the scene, the area near the entrance of the packaging material warehouse burned the most thoroughly, showing characteristics of multiple ignition points.

Of course, this is only a preliminary observation, and everything is subject to the conclusions of the official investigation.

The fire department has completed its initial investigation.

The fire originated in the southeast corner of the packaging materials warehouse, where a large number of paper boxes were piled up.

Multiple ignition points were found at the scene, and the odor of the residual accelerant was abnormal.

Captain Li's initial assessment: "The possibility of arson cannot be ruled out, but more professional criminal investigation and fire scene investigation technical support is needed."

The police station's investigation has also made progress.

Warehouse keeper Lao Liu said that this morning, the deputy factory director in charge of logistics came to him and said that Director Wang had instructed him to find the electricians to fix several surveillance cameras in the warehouse area.

The electricians came to inspect the area and said the wiring was old and needed to be shut off for repairs. So they temporarily cut off the power to several cameras near the warehouse. Before they could repair them, the fire broke out.

Wu Zhiyuan asked coldly, "Power outage for maintenance? What a coincidence! Who gave the order? Which electrician went to carry out the operation? Is there a written maintenance order?"

The storekeeper, Lao Liu, stammered, "It was...it was Director Wang who asked the deputy director to relay the message. Xiao Li went to the electrician's team, and it seems the repair order hasn't been issued yet..."

Wu Zhiyuan ordered, "Bring that electrician, Xiao Li, and the deputy factory manager who relayed the message to the police station to cooperate with the investigation!"

At this moment, Wang Defa arrived, looking heartbroken: "Secretary Wu, such a serious safety accident has occurred. As the factory director, I bear an unshirkable responsibility. I request that the organization impose disciplinary action on me."

The most urgent task is to calm the employees, assess the losses, and restore operations as quickly as possible…

"Director Wang," Wu Zhiyuan interrupted him, "the cause of the fire is still under investigation."

"Tell me first, this morning, were you the one who arranged for the power to be cut off and repaired for the security cameras in the warehouse area?"

A flicker of panic crossed Wang Defa's face, but he quickly regained his composure: "That's right. Secretary Wu, as you know, our factory is short of funds, many pieces of equipment are old and in disrepair, and several surveillance cameras are broken and we haven't had time to repair them."

Wasn't General Manager Shen coming to inspect the factory this time? I was thinking of checking the factory's appearance and safety facilities, repairing what needed repairing and replacing what needed replacing, so that people wouldn't laugh at us.

So we sent logistics personnel to check and repair what could be fixed.

Who knew something like this would happen at this crucial moment! Sigh, it's all my fault; I didn't do my job properly!

He spoke reasonably, completely absolving himself of responsibility and blaming everything on aging equipment and accidents.

Wu Zhiyuan asked calmly, "How much inventory is stored in the packaging materials warehouse? Can I see the recent inbound and outbound records?"

Wang Defa's expression hardened, but he quickly regained his composure: "We'll have to ask the warehouse and finance departments for the exact figure."

Production has been a bit irregular lately, which may be causing some delays in inventory management. I'll have them sort it out immediately.

"No need." Wu Zhiyuan stood up. "The fire department and the police will retrieve all relevant information in accordance with the law."

Director Wang, you need to cooperate with the investigation and reassure the employees.

Before the cause of the fire is officially determined, no member of the factory's leadership team may leave Xindian Town without my approval, and they must cooperate with the investigation at any time. Understand?

Wang Defa forced himself to remain calm: "Understood."

Wu Zhiyuan looked at the ruins, still emitting wisps of smoke, and felt heavy-hearted.

This fire destroyed state property, the hard work of employees, and served as evidence of the desperate actions of certain individuals.

He was almost certain that the fire was aimed at obstructing the acquisition and destroying certain evidence.

But they were too hasty and underestimated the organization's determination and the investigators' capabilities.

Once the fox's tail has been exposed, it can't be hidden away again!

The fire department's in-depth investigation and technical analysis quickly yielded a final conclusion.

Based on the comprehensive analysis of multiple ignition point traces, accelerant residue identification, and on-site investigation, the final professional opinion clearly states:

The fire was arson, and the ignition source was a common flammable liquid. The arson points were located in multiple places inside the packaging material warehouse, and there were signs of deliberately piling up flammable materials to aid combustion.

Meanwhile, the police station's inquiry also yielded a breakthrough.

Faced with immense psychological pressure and overwhelming evidence, the electrician, Xiao Li, who was responsible for cutting off the power, couldn't withstand the pressure and confessed the truth:

It wasn't due to aging and repairs of the surveillance lines at all; rather, Wang Defa personally instructed him to turn off the surveillance cameras in the warehouse area under the guise of maintenance.

The deputy factory manager who relayed the message had to admit that it was Wang Defa who told him to notify the custodian to find an electrician to repair the surveillance system.

The key breakthrough came from Zhao Dabao, the head of the purchasing department and a close confidant of Wang Defa.

Faced with overwhelming evidence, Zhao Dabao's psychological defenses crumbled, and he had no choice but to confess:

It was Wang Defa who instructed him to sneak into the warehouse during the day of the inspection and set fire to the cardboard boxes and waste materials piled up in the corner with gasoline.

The aim was to create chaos and major safety incidents, thus turning the brewery into a mess with significant safety hazards and historical baggage.

Dingyue Group certainly wouldn't dare to take over, and the county and town governments would also be hesitant to act, so the acquisition and restructuring naturally fell through.

Wang Defa said, "If the factory is sold, none of us will have a good outcome."

Why not just burn it down? Then no one will have a good time.

It can also create accidents to cover up some accounting and inventory problems...

Wang Defa and others were subsequently arrested.

The county discipline inspection commission's investigation has also made a major breakthrough.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that Wang Defa and others are not only suspected of instigating arson and endangering public safety, but also of serious violations of discipline and law, including abusing their positions to accept bribes, make false claims, and embezzle state-owned assets in the procurement of materials, engineering contracting, and asset disposal. The amount involved in the cases is enormous.

His relatives' affiliated companies have long supplied the brewery with raw materials and packaging materials at prices higher than the market price, or rented the factory's premises and vehicles at low prices, thus draining the company's profits.

What was intended as an evil fire to obstruct reform and cover up crimes has instead become a blazing flame that burns away the facade of corrupt officials.

When the news spread that Wang Defa, Zhou Jianming, and others had been taken away for investigation, the brewery workers applauded and many even set off fireworks, as if it were Chinese New Year.

"Well done! These parasites should have been caught long ago!"

"I never imagined they could be so heartless; they'd even commit arson for their own benefit!"

"Thanks to Secretary Wu, and thanks to the determination from above!"

Zhang Junhua was appointed to take charge of the brewery under the leadership of the town's Party committee during a time of crisis.