A forest fire that started at lunchtime on Tuesday in northeast China's Jilin Province has been put out, according to local forest fire control authorities.

The blaze, which broke out at 12:35 p.m. in the Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve, had been extinguished as of Tuesday night by three helicopters and more than 1,700 firemen.

It destroyed more than four hectares of forest, said Zhang Hui, an official with the provincial forest fire control headquarters.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Covering an area of more than 190,000 hectares, the Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve is one of China's largest nature reserves and is home to the rare Siberian tiger, snow leopards and wild ginseng.