A forest fire in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region had engulfed around 10,000 hectares of forest as of 3:00 p.m. local time on Wednesday, according to the regional forest fire prevention headquarters.
The fire broke out on Tuesday in Bilahe Beidahe forest in the Greater Hinggan Mountains, in the east of the autonomous region. A worker of the local forestry bureau had dumped ashes in the area, triggering the severe forest fire, according to an initial investigation. The worker was arrested by local police.
Firefighters battling the forest fire in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region./ VCG Photo
The State Forest Fire Prevention Headquarters deployed 8,365 people and 12 firefighting airplanes to the site. Another 1,000 people from neighboring Heilongjiang Province were ready to join the efforts if the blaze was not brought under control.
Dry vegetation, strong changeable winds and high temperatures have made it difficult to extinguish the blaze, according to the headquarters.
VCG Photo
Local authorities are also ready to carry out artificial precipitation, in the hope that rainfall will help to get the fire under control.
This is the second large forest fire in the area, after a fire broke out in another forest on Sunday. It was extinguished, with a clean-up operation underway.
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