Thousands battle massive forest fire in North China

By Xinhua - Global Times Published: May 03, 2017 10:08 PM

Police officers and firefighters try to cease fire at Beidahe forest farm in the Greater Hinggan Mountain region, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 4, 2017. Thousands of firefighters are battling a fire in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, which broke out at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

More than 8,300 people are battling a forest fire that broke out Tuesday in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, authorities said Wednesday.

The fire broke out in Beidahe forest in the Greater Hinggan Mountains. As of Wednesday morning, it had engulfed around 5,000 hectares of forest, according to the regional forest fire prevention headquarters, which has launched a second-degree emergency plan.

As of 3:00 pm Wednesday, 8,365 people were dispatched to put out the fire, including 2,590 forest police. The headquarters said that 12 firefighting airplanes would be dispatched to the site on Wednesday.

Dry vegetation, strong changeable winds and high temperatures are making it difficult to extinguish the blaze, according to the headquarters.

According to the State Forestry Administration, the fire was caused by a worker from one of the forest management stations. The worker had allegedly left fuel residuals from a boiler around in the forest. The suspect has already been detained.

The State Council has sent a special work team comprised of officials from transport, forestry, meteorological and military departments to the spot. A cross-border fire broke out in another forest in the area Sunday. It has been put out, and the cleanup work is underway.