Yunnan fire possibly caused by human: investigators

14 April 2006

published by news.xinhuanet.com

KUNMING — Investigators offered Friday a reward of 20,000 yuan (2,500 U.S. dollars) for information leading to the cause of a forest fire on a famed snow-capped mountain in southwest China.

The investigators suspected the fire on Yulong (Jade Dragon) Snow Mountain, Yunnan Province was caused by human.

The fire was under control Friday 15 kilometers from the UNESCO’s World Heritage site and the famed tourist town of Lijiang.

The fire broke out Wednesday afternoon and no injuries have been reported, sources from the Lijiang city government said.

The blaze in the eastern part of the mountain was brought under control on Wednesday night, but it flared up again as it was fanned by windy weather the next day.

Nearly 1,000 soldiers and local residents are fighting the fire and a fire break has been cut through the forest to prevent it from spreading.

The sightseeing area of the mountain was closed Friday but is expected to open on Saturday.

Investigation into the cause of the fire is under way, while meteorological statistics indicated that prolonged dry weather was likely a contributing factor.

Yulong Snow Mountain, covering some 300 square kilometers, consists of 13 perennially snow-capped peaks and boasts abundant forest resources. The three main sightseeing spots on the mountain attract about 1 million tourists from home and abroad every year.

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Forest fire in southwest China’s Lijiang resurges

15 April 2006

published by news.xinhuanet.com

KUNMING — Firefighters were sent to quench a forest fire that had been brought under control but resurged due to strong wind on Saturday afternoon in Lijiang city, Southwest China’s Yunnan Province.

The fire flared up at 2 p.m. Saturday when it blew heavily with the flame in some areas more than 10 meters high. The firefighters have then put out most of the fire, and were quenching in two sites measuring more than 3 hectares each, according to He Zixing,party secretary of Lijiang city on Saturday.

The fire, which broke out at Cimeige of Yulong County, around 6p.m. on Wednesday, has not posed a threat to or influence on the famous snow-clad Yulong Mountain scenery some 20 km away.

Affected forest area extends 133 ha, with primarily regrown forests and some primitive forests being destroyed, said an official from the fire fighting headquarters.

More than 2,000 personnel, including those from the military and the armed police, plus one helicopter and about 100 tanker trucks have been sent to quench the fire.

Cause of the fire was unknown by press time. 

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Arrancó campaña de Prevención y Control de Incendios forestales

30 April 2006

published by www.elmundo.com.bo

Bolivia — La patrulla de bomberos forestales puso a prueba sus destrezas en la caso de incendios de pastizales durante un simulacro realizado ayer en instalaciones de la Villa Olímpica Abraham Telchi. La actividad fue realizada en el marco del Programa Estratégico de Prevención y Control de Incendios Forestales, que desarrolla la Prefectura del Departamento.

Fueron aproximadamente veinte bomberos, especialmente capacitados para este tipo de situaciones , de la Fundación de Búsqueda y Rescate (Funsar), encabezados por su comandante, Runny Callaú, quienes participaron del simulacro que se desarrolló en la zona de la pista de atletismo.
La práctica consistió en la detección de incendios, control de fuego y búsqueda del autor.
Según informó el jefe del Programa de Control de Incendios, Esteban Cardona en casos reales de incendios se buscará a los autores o autor de la quema y una vez identificado será procesado ante un juez con orden fiscal, para que sea sancionado.
“De esta forma se pretende que los responsables de los incendios ya no queden impunes. El Gobierno Departamental busca aplicar la ley para identificar y castigar a los autores de siniestros con fuego en las zonas rurales”, destacó Cardona.
A su vez la presentación de la segunda fase del programa se realizó ayer en el salón del Consejo Departamental y contó con la participación del prefecto del Departamento, Rubén Costas, los alcaldes de todos los municipios, subprefectos, fiscales, comandante de la Octava División, bomberos, empresas petroleras, Federación de Ganaderos de Santa Cruz (Fegasacruz), Asociación de Productores de Oleaginosas (Anapo) y organizaciones relacionadas a la temática.
A las autoridades se les informó sobre la responsabilidad que les toca en la prevención de siniestros y además firmaron un acta de responsabilidad para prevenir incendios forestales y de pastizales.
Se pretende que a partir de esta gestión sólo se realicen quemas planificadas ycontroladas.

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Forestfire in Yunnan expected to be quenched soon

17 April 2006

published by http://news.xinhuanet.com 

KUNMING, April 17 (Xinhua) — Fire fighters in southwest China’s Yunnan Province said they may put out a forest fire close to a scenic snow mountain on Monday, five days after it flared up.

By midday Monday, all the visible flames had been extinguished in forests close to Yulong (Jade Dragon) Snow Mountain, said sources with the Yunnan provincial headquarters of the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force.

The five-day fire-fighting campaign is to end on Monday, though fire fighters are still keeping watch at the fire site for any spark that might escalate into flames again.

The fire broke out last Wednesday in forests 15 kilometers from the mountain and the famed tourist town of Lijiang. The fire was almost extinguished on several occasions, but resurged again due to strong wind.

Fortunately, the fire failed to result in any injury, and tourists continued to flood to the Yulong Snow Mountain on Sunday, said Sun fang, head of the fire fighting headquarters.

The investigators suspected the fire was caused by human, while meteorological statistics indicate prolonged dry weather was also to blame.

Yulong Snow Mountain, covering some 300 square kilometers, consists of 13 perennially snow-capped peaks and boasts abundant forest resources. The three main sightseeing spots on the mountain attract about 1 million tourists from home and abroad every year. Enditem

Editor: Ling Zhu

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Rusiay China cooperarán en la lucha contra Incendios Forestales

19 April 2006

published by http://sp.rian.ru 

Beijing, 19 de abril, RIA Novosti. Rusia y China se proponen desarrollar su cooperación en la lucha contra incendios y plagas forestales, declaró a periodistas rusos en Beijing el director de la Agencia Federal Forestal (AFF) de Rusia, Valeri Roschupkin.

La delegación de la AFF asiste en Beijing a la reunión conjunta del grupo de trabajo ruso-chino para el aprovechamiento de los recursos forestales.

“Hemos acordado cooperar en la lucha contra incendios y plagas forestales a nivel de regiones”, comentó Roschupkin agregando que Rusia está interesada en desarrollar esa labor sobre todo a nivel de territorios fronterizos.

En la reunión se estudió la posibilidad de fundar una empresa aeronáutica conjunta para la extinción de incendios forestales.

El director de la Agencia Federal Forestal informó que la parte china muestra gran interés hacia las tecnologías rusas de lucha contra incendios y plagas forestales. En particular, señaló, China estudia adquirir el avión anfibio ruso B-200 que permite arrojar de una vez 50 toneladas de agua sobre un foco de incendio.

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