Thousands of personnel fight Yunnan mountain fire

KUNMING - More than 2,000 firefighters and servicemen are still fighting a mountain fire that has raged for over a day in southwest China's Yunnan Province, police sources said on Thursday.

The fire broke out around 4 p.m. on Wednesday in Huangjia Village of Dali City and has spread to about 47 hectares as of 5 p.m. on Thursday, according to the forest police in Dali.

There have been no reports of casualties so far.

The local firefighting department said strong winds and dry weather have hindered firefighters' efforts, prompting police to dispatch a Mi-26 helicopter and another K-32 to assist the efforts.

Initial investigation showed waste incineration by a local sanitation worker started the fire.