Smoldering coal fire successfully exterminated in North China

It begins to snow in the Greater Hinggan Mountains in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, May 5, 2017. Firefighters walk to a rally point after they put out a fire, which broke out in Bilahe Beidahe Forest in the Greater Hinggan Mountains on May 2. [Photo/Xinhua]

The fire spread throughout over 11,500 hectares of forest. The emergency response team consisted of more than 9,400 firefighters, police and civilians. Authorities said the blaze was caused by smoldering coal that had been improperly dumped and a suspect is currently in police detention. Steps are now being taken to prevent the fire from reigniting.