Red alert raises risk for forest fires

China issued a red alert, the highest level, for forest fire risks on Thursday.

From Friday through Monday, southern parts of Southwest China's Sichuan province and northern parts of neighboring Yunnan province will see the risk of forest fires stay at the highest level, according to an alert jointly issued by the Ministry of Emergency Management, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration and the China Meteorological Administration.

Meanwhile, the risk of forest fires in northern parts of Beijing and Hebei province and southeastern parts of Shanxi province, both in North China, also will be high, according to the alert.

High temperatures, persistent dry weather and strong winds increased forest fire risks in these areas and drought will continue in the next five days beginning Thursday.

A forest fire flared up in Xichang, Sichuan province on Monday, killing 18 firefighters. Yunnan province has reported four forest fires since Sunday.