Three firefighters lost their lives in Yunnan whilst battling devastating forest fires in China. These tragic events took place in the provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan, which have been affected by fires since the start of spring. Windy and dry conditions, which are conducive to fires at this time of year, led to a fire breaking out on Friday and Saturday, in which one person was also injured.
110 firefighters fought the fire in Douge, Yunnan, on Saturday at 6.10 pm and brought it under control at 11.05 pm the same day. The fire affected an area of approximately 5.33 hectares. The authorities remain vigilant, monitoring the area to prevent the fire from reigniting. The cause of the fire is still unknown.
Joint efforts to combat forest fires in China
In neighbouring Sichuan, another fire broke out near the village of Baizi. A sudden increase in wind speed on Saturday exacerbated the situation, causing the fire to spread rapidly. The authorities safely evacuated more than 4,900 residents. The National Meteorological Centre has activated an emergency response, focusing satellite imagery on Chengdu for closer monitoring.
More than 2,230 firefighters have been deployed, supported by eight helicopters from the Ministry of Emergency Management. Their coordinated efforts have prevented major disruption to essential services in the region. The authorities and teams on the ground are continuing to work tirelessly to bring the situation under control and prevent further incidents.