Fires in China's Largest Forests Completely Doused

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, August 20, 2002

Fires in China's Largest Forests Completely Doused

The 23-day fires caused by lightning strikes in China's largest forested area have been completely doused, the fire control headquarters says.

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The 23-day fires caused by lightning strikes in China's largest forested area have been completely doused, the fire control headquarters says.

Since June, unusual weather has occurred frequently worldwide, with forest fires reported in many countries such as the United States, Canada and Russia.

In China, prolonged high temperatures in July and a sharp 60-70percent drop in rainfall affected northern and northeast regions. Unusually active thunderbolts finally sparked wildfires in the virgin forests of the northern Greater Hinggan Mountains, the country's biggest forests in the northeast region.

These fires proved hard to control as all broke out in areas far from roads. Fire-fighters had to be parachuted in then walk tothe sites. Fire control efforts were further undermined by high temperatures and lack of water sources. Continuing lightning strikes caused fresh outbreaks which demanded manpower that was already in short supply.

After Aug. 15 when showers fell at most fire-spots, the headquarters seized the opportunity and organized personnel to battle the flames and managed to totally put out all fires on Monday.

The operation involved over 16,000 people, including about 5,600 forest police and 11,000 local forestry workers, sources said.

The police and workers were leaving the fire sites, but the headquarters will keep some people on standby in case fire breaks out again.

CPC Central Committee sends message of thanks to fire-fighters

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), State Council and the Central Military Commission sent a congratulatory message on Monday to fire control headquarters, which declared it had totally extinguished all forest fires in northeast China.

Under the leadership of local government and the State ForestryAdministration, together with help and cooperation from armed police, military, railway and civil aviation sectors and meteorological departments, 16,000 fire-fighting policemen and forestry workers had completely put out the worst summer forest fires since 1949, the message said.

Fire-fighters wrought a miracle as they overcame many difficulties and extinguished large scale wildfires caused by lightning, largely relying on manpower alone, the message said.

The CPC Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission sent their regards to all fire-fighters, police officers, soldiers and also media personnel, the message noted.

The message urged fire control authorities to thoroughly check sites to prevent fires from recurring, and to deal with aftermath problems properly, to improve protection measures for national forestry resources and people's lives and property.

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