The forest fire in the Great Khingan Range, a major base of
virgin forest reserve in northeast China, was put out Sunday
morning after lasting for two days.
Nearly 2,000 forest police and fire fighters as well as 300
armed police were exhausted after braving the blaze in gust of wind
round the clock.
The fire broke out at the woods under the jurisdiction of the
Dayangshu Forestry Bureau in Oroqen Autonomous Banner in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Friday
noon.
Satellite observation spotted no scattered fire in the area
Sunday morning, said an official with the forestry bureau.
Air patrols are monitoring the area to prevent possible fire
resurging, the official said. The fire fighters are expected to
withdraw Sunday afternoon.
Neither losses from the fire nor the cause of it were
immediately available.
The range has been at the risk of fire since April 20 due to
longtime drought spell and relatively high temperature, which might
have led to the forest fire, according to local forestry
officials.
(Xinhua News Agency May 7, 2006)