China rings fire alarm

The worst spring fire risk in<Chinas northeastern region and Inner Mongolia are facing the highest spring fire risk in 60 years, the State Headquarters for Forest Fire Control (shffc) has warned.

Rainfall in the region is 30 per cent less than the annual average, with temperatures soaring by 1C to 6C, shffc authorities said in a statement. Forecasting that warm weather and little rainfall in the coming days would worsen the situation, the authorities have asked to step up forest fire prevention measures. Since March 15, forest fire risks in the region have been raised to level fourwhich requires banning any fire use in forests.

The government has published a draft revision of its forest fire control regulation with stiffer penalties and stricter fire prevention measures. The draft posted on the website, www.chinalaw.gov.cn, is open for comments.