COLOMBO, July 26 (Xinhua) -- A total of 258 fire incidents have been reported in Colombo and its suburbs since January, Sri Lanka's Fire Service Department said on Sunday.

Firefighters carried out 17 rescue operations during these fires, the department said.

The department said the increase in the number of fires reported so far this year required close attention.

The department identified inadequate fire safety measures at workplaces, weak emergency response arrangements, unsafe electrical practices in homes and workplaces, and dry weather conditions as major causes of the fires. ■