The General Office of the State Council of China issued an urgent directive Tuesday, ordering localities to take substantial steps to prevent forest fires, following a series of forest fires in some parts of the country.

It gives special warnings to local governments and other relevant departments in the country's northern and southwestern areas which have experienced dry weather.

Fire-fighters should be organized in a scientific way, so as to put out fires safely and efficiently, while avoiding casualties among fire-fighters, it says.

It also calls for improvements to forest fire control headquarters at different levels, to help mobilize troops and police forces in the fight against forest fires.

Source: Xinhua