In this paper. fire accidents happening from B.C.221 to A.D. 1949 in China are analyzed and the changing regularity of high fire occurrence regions (HFOR) is discussed. We have reached some useful conclusions: (1) the changes of HFOR in China follow those of the economic and cultural centers. The more advanced the economy in the province, the more the fire accidents. (2) war is the primary cause for fires in the Chinese history. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.