Nearly 5,000 firefighters are battling a fire in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
The fire has spread to 10,000 hectares, said Shen Dongsheng, an officer with the forest detachment at the Greater Hinggan Mountains.
Four temporary helicopter landing spots have been set up for artificial precipitation, and armored vehicles are also mobilized.
The fire broke out at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday in the Bilahe Beidahe forest in Inner Mongolia.
Initial investigations found the fire was caused by illegal dumping of burning residue by a local furnace worker, who has been detained for further investigation.
