Artificial rainfall brings N. China forest fire under control
Artificial rainfall brings N. China forest fire under control
22 May 2006
published by news.xinhuanet.com
HONGHUAERJI TOWN, Inner Mongolia — The fire that engulfed 8,300 hectares of forest in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has brought under control on Thursday, thanks to an artificial rainfall, the fire-control headquarterssaid.
It snowed lightly at the forest zone for about an hour after rocket shells were launched Thursday morning to make artificial rainfall.
The blaze, which broke out Tuesday evening due to lightning strikes, has engulfed 8,300 hectares of camphor pine forest in Ewenki Autonomous Banner of Hulun Buir City, but no injuries have been reported. It is about 10 kilometers away from Honghuaerji Town.
Some 1,400 police and firemen have been sent to extinguish the fire.
The long-lasting high temperature, strong winds and thick grassin oil-rich camphor pine forest have made firefighting difficult in the region, the headquarters said.
