Society

VP stresses safety of fire fighters after 9 die

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-04 21:14

BEIJING - Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu Friday stressed the need to ensure the safety of fire-fighters after nine people died when trying to put out a forest fire in southwest China's Yunnan province.

Related readings:  Forest fire still raging in SW China after 9 died  9 killed, 7 injured in SW China forest fire  Forest engulfed in blaze; yet to be tamed

Hui said fire departments should dispatch enough professional fire-fighters to extinguish the fire as soon as possible, as latest reports said high winds had kept the fire alive.

The fire was started after a field of burning corn roots got out of control Wednesday. Winds reignited the fire that was smoldering Thursday, trapping the fire-fighters and resulting in the deaths and injuries.

Among the dead, three were professional fire-fighters, while six were volunteers including four county and township officials and two villagers.

Hospital sources said another seven injured people were in stable condition as of Friday morning.

More than 1,000 people and two helicopters have been mobilized in the fire fighting action.