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Forest fire put out in N China, no casualties

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-01 21:55

YANGQUAN, Shanxi - Firefighters had extinguished a lightning-triggered forest fire that lasted nearly 46 hours in North China's Shanxi province.

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The fire, spotted at 9 pm Friday in a forest that borders the cities of Jinzhong and Yangquan, was put out by 7 pm Sunday, said an official with the local firefighting headquarters.

No casualties were reported as the fire engulfed mainly uninhabited area.

Thousands of firefighters were mobilized to extinguish the fire, and some of them would remain in the forest for another 70 hours to prevent its re-igniting.

Initial investigations showed that lightning was most likely responsible for starting the fire.