A forest fire that broke out Monday afternoon in the suburbs of Taiyuan, capital of north China's Shanxi Province, had been brought under control by Monday evening, but it had not been put out yet as it was blown to a neighboring county by strong winds.

The fire broke out at about 1:30 p.m. in an experimental woodland of the Shanxi provincial forestry vocational school, situated in Zhongzui Village, on the outskirts of Taiyuan.

Strong winds of force four to five spread the fire to adjoining Shouyang county and it is continuing sprawling towards the northwest.

It is estimated that the fire raged 30 to 40 hectares in the afternoon.

Local senior leaders, including Taiyuan Vice-Mayor Zhang Chungen, were directing the fire-fighting efforts, in which more than 1,200 firemen, policemen and local residents were involved.

There were no reports of casualties yet and investigation into the fire was underway.

(Xinhua News Agency March 30, 2004)