China’s Government Issues Warning Against Forest Fire, 24 March 1999
China’s Government Issues Warning Against Forest Fire
24 March 1999
Several smoke plumes are recorded by OSEI with the NOAA/NESDIS GMS Sensor on 23 March 1999.
Fig.1. NOAA image of smoke plumes over Southern China near the border to Burma 23 March 1999
(Source: NOAA http://www.osei.noaa.gov/)
On 22 March 1999 Vice-premier Wen Jiabao called for effective measures to prevent forest fire this spring, since the relative high temperature this winter may take their occurrence more likely. There is less snow and rain in last winter, which meant that undergrowth, trees and foliage were drier than usual.
Fire prevention facilities in Heilongjiang province and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were destroyed in last summer’s serious floods.
In some forest regions in the south, the fire prevention period should be extended this year in response to continuous arid weather conditions and the already frequent outbreak of fires.
The number of fire and the resulting casualties were considerably higher in the first two months this year than in the same period last year. All localities and relevant departments must be fully prepared for the possibility of severe fire situation this year. More efforts should be made in monitoring potential fire threats. It must tighten control over people’s activities in forests, and make better preparations for fire control.
For earlier reports on fire in the People’s Republic of China: see IFFN Country Notes.
Remarks by the Global Fire Monitoring Center: Please re-visit our photo archive later on Friday 26 March 1999 with images of fires and fire effects in Heilongjoang montane-boreal forests.
