SHANGHAI - Wang Wei has been fighting fires for 10 years, but "never before" has he seen a blaze as intense as the one that gutted the 28-story residential building in downtown Shanghai on Monday, killing 53 people.

"When we arrived at the scene, the entire building was engulfed in flames and the bamboo scaffolding and the nylon net over it were burning furiously," Wang recalled.

"Once we reached inside the building, it seemed as if every floor and every household was on fire. Our efforts to save lives were hindered by the intense heat and smoke."