Home / Government / Central Government News Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read
Officials Punished over Forest Fires
Adjust font size:

More than 10 officials were punished last year for failing to adequately control and fight forest fires, the State Forestry Administration (SFA) said recently.

Du Yongsheng, director of the forest police bureau under the SFA released the findings of eight cases in which fires were deliberately set and resulted in large losses.

One case involved the destruction last March of 520 hectares of forest in Yunnan Province. Some 6,500 people were needed to fight the blaze, which burned for more than 10 days and left a bill of 11 million yuan ($1.4 million). A mentally ill man was suspected of setting the fire but he escaped punishment.

Three officials were punished, however, for not dealing with the matter in an appropriate way.

Cao Qingyao, spokesman of the SFA, told a news conference, that about 95 percent of the some 7,000 forest fires last year were caused by people.

Cao said that due to persistent drought, higher than average temperatures and strong winds, forest fires were increasingly likely to break out.

Forests in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and northeast China's Heilongjiang Province were particularly at risk, he said.

Du warned forest firemen to closely monitor likely sources of fires and to keep up to date with weather conditions. He said that 97 percent of forest fires should be put out the day they happen and that no more than 0.1 percent of any forest should be burnt every year.

However, Du said that in Northeast and Southwest China, only 90-94 percent of fires are extinguished on the same day. Forest police teams should be expanded to provide better protection, he said.

(China Daily May 9, 2007)

Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read

Related Stories
Blaze Ravages Virgin Forest in Tibet
N. China Threatened by Forest Fires
Blaze Ravaging Yunnan Under Control
Fire Engulfing Virgin Forest in Tibet
Forest Fire Prevention Stressed
Questions and Answers More
Q: What Are the Custom Procedures to Export Personal Articles?
A: According to the Custom Law, any long-term non-resident passenger importing or exporting articles for personal use must submit a written application to the appropriate customs agency personally or by authorizing an agent.
Useful Info
- Who's Who in China's Leadership
- State Structure
- China's Political System
- China's Legislative System
- China's Judicial System
- Mapping out 11th Five-Year Guidelines
Links
- Chinese Embassies
- International Department, Central Committee of CPC
- State Organs Work Committee of CPC
- United Front Work Department, Central Committee of CPC
SiteMap | About Us | RSS | Newsletter | Feedback
SEARCH THIS SITE
Copyright © China.org.cn. All Rights Reserved     E-mail: webmaster@china.org.cn Tel: 86-10-88828000 京ICP证 040089号