HOHHOT, July 11 (Xinhua) -- More than 320 firefighters have been sent to contain a forest fire in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, local authorities said Thursday.
The forest fire broke out Thursday in Abahe, under the jurisdiction of the Qiqian Forestry Bureau in the Greater Hinggan Mountains, according to the regional firefighting headquarters.
More than 200 firefighters have been sent to the forest, and 70 others are ready to be airlifted to the region. Another group of 50 firefighters are on standby at a nearby airport.
Since June, the Inner Mongolia section of the Greater Hinggan Mountains and its surrounding regions have seen thunder and lightning tens of thousands of times. Less rainfall and higher temperatures have also increased the risk of fires.
