NE China barn fire investigated

Firefighters try to put out a fire at a barn base in Lindian county, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, June 1, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua]

LINDIAN, Heilongjiang - Grain and safety supervisory officials have started investigating a fire that ripped through one of China's barn bases in the northeastern Heilongjiang province.

A team consisting of officials of the State Administration of Grain and the provincial work safety and supervisory bureau was organized Saturday for the investigation following the fire on Friday in Huayuan Township of Lindian County, a major grain base of China.

About 1,600 workers were mobilized to put out the fire as it was spotted at a barn around 1:15 pm Friday, said Luo Hongquan, deputy director of the base.

The fire later spread to 78 barns, with a total grain reserve of 47,000 tonnes, because of the strong wind and high temperature on the day, and was finally contained at 4:30 pm, said Luo.

Among the affected barns, 60 were filled with corns, and 18 with rice. Luo said one to two tonnes of grains in each barn were burnt, and total economic loss and the cause of the fire is being investigated.

Established in 1961, the barn base has an area of 220,000 square meters and is operated by the Heilongjiang branch of the China Grain Reserves Corporation. A total of 140,000 tonnes of grains were stocked there when the fire happened, he said.