Chinese Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu on Wednesday called for
effective measures to quench fires in all forest zones after
firemen extinguished one in Nenjiang County of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province Wednesday morning.
More than 15,000 police and firemen were still fighting against
fires at Kanduhe Forest Farm in the Greater Hinggan Mountains and
in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
Hui said more firemen and airplanes are needed to quench all the
forest fires, while close attention should be given to the safety
of rescuers and local residents
He also urged relevant departments to enhance coordination,
mobilize more people for fire fighting and launch artificial rain
when conditions are ripe.
Over the past three days, Hui inspected fire fighting at several
forest farms, conveyed the directions of Premier Wen Jiabao on fire
control and encouraged fire fighters to redouble their efforts for
the final victory.
Due to high temperature, dry climate and strong wind, fires have
broken out in some forest farms in Heilongjiang Province since
Spring.
(Xinhua News Agency June 1, 2006)
