Firefighters have extinguished a fire that burned in a mountain forest for almost three days in north China's Hebei Province, local authorities said Tuesday.

So far, no casualties have been reported and no damage was seen in local villages in the Nanying Township, Lingshou County, a spokesman with the fire headquarters said.

The fire, which broke out at about 3:30 p.m. Saturday, was fanned by winds and engulfed some 20 hectares of forest.

More than 3,000 people, including soldiers, police officers, government officials and local residents, pitched in to fight the fire. It was out at about 9:15 a.m. Tuesday.

Police are questioning a local villager who allegedly ignited the fire to burn bushes near his farmland.

(Xinhua News Agency March 17, 2009)