Beijing will strengthen forest fire prevention by building more
monitoring facilities to ensure a safe environment for the Olympic
Games next year.
The city plans to set up nine monitoring sites equipped with
video surveillance technologies, 88 watchtowers and five
meteorological stations in 2008 to provide information and
immediate reports of forest fire risks.
The scheme has been approved by the State Forestry
Administration and construction will start soon.
Beijing is expected to experience high temperatures and less
precipitation this winter and next spring, which could increase
fire risks.
At present, 94 firefighting teams, 123 watchtowers and 43 video
monitoring facilities are working to ensure the safety of more than
500,000 square kilometers of forest in Beijing.
Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice Premier Hui Liangyu have ordered
improvements in forest fire prevention methods and fire fighting
capabilities.
(Xinhua News Agency October 18, 2007)