Flames on one side of Lushan Mountain extinguished

The flames on one side of the mountain were extinguished thanks to the painstaking efforts of 1,207 firefighters, according to headquarters.

The raging forest fire, which started at about 4 pm on Monday in Jingjiu township in Xichang, killed 18 firefighters and a local guide, and injured three other firefighters. 

Xichang officials said the blaze started on a farm before strong winds spread the flames to Lushan Mountain, turning it into an inferno that people in downtown Xichang could see and smell its smoke.