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Southwest China forest fire put out

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-22 22:20

GUIYANG -- A forest fire that covered about 600 hectares in southwest China's Guizhou province was extinguished Sunday morning and there are no reports of human fatality, according to local authorities.

The fire broke out at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Pubai Wood Farm when farmers at Louxia Town, Pu'an County, were burning the grass to clear the land. The fire was put out at 10:30 a.m., a county government official said.

The fire spread quickly by strong winds to the neighbouring Xuepu. More than 500 firefighters and local residents joined the rescue effort, he said.

Two houses were damaged and one was destroyed. No casualties have been reported, he said.

China's forest fire administration warned Thursday that southwestern China should be on alert for potential forest fires due to the lack of rainfall in the regions.