CHANGSHA ?-- Three officials were removed from their posts after a fire in a fireworks shop killed six people in Central China's Hunan province late Tuesday.

One of the officials, Ning Lingchun was in charge of work safety in the development and reform bureau of the economic development zone in Yueyang city where the incident occurred, the city government said.

The fire started in a four-storey building in a market at 9:08 pm Tuesday. It was triggered by firecrackers lit by a customer outside the store.

The fire was put out at around 11:20 pm Tuesday.

Both the shop owner and person who purchased the fireworks have been detained by police.