Forest fire put out in NE China

HARBIN - A forest fire that started Tuesday morning in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province was put out in the afternoon, according to the local forest fire prevention headquarters.

The forest fire, which broke out at 9:35 a.m. and ripped through the Tayuan Forest on the Greater Hinggan Mountain, had been extinguished as of 5:35 p.m. with the help of 4,240 rescuers and soldiers, the headquarters said.

An initial investigation showed that the fire was caused by a lightning strike, according to the headquarters.

Meanwhile, another forest fire that began at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday in the Wuying Forest in the city of Yichun was extinguished by 6:00 p.m.

Dry, hot weather triggered several forest fires on the Greater Hinggan Mountain, in Xunke county in the city of Heihe and in the city of Yichun, the forest fire prevention headquarters in Heilongjiang said.

Rising temperatures and windy weather have created high-risk conditions and caused the frequent occurrence of forest fires, explained the headquarters.