(TibetanReview.net, Mar18’24) — The forest fire in Kardze (Ganzi or Garze) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province, has affected two counties and reached a residential area in one of them even as it has been put out at one of the three main engulfed sections, said China’s official media reports Mar 18.
A total of 3,396 residents of a dozen villages had been evacuated as of Mar 17 while more than 1200 firefighters were fighting the blaze, it was earlier reported.
It may be recalled that theforest fire was earlier stated to have broken out in the prefecture’s Yajiang (Tibetan: Nyagchu) County at around 5 pm on Mar 15 near Baizi village (in Golog (Xiala or Xi’eluo Town) and spread to a larger area, including a village named Tongda, driven by a sudden increase in wind the following day.
The fire had consisted of three main sections, with control made more difficult by unpredictable wind shifts that spread the blaze in multiple directions, reported chinadaily.com.cn Mar 18.
One of the three main branches of the forest fire in Yajiang county had been extinguished, the report said.
However, from Mar 18 evening to early this morning, the fire approached residences near the PetroChina gas station in Yajiang; firefighters quickly laid hose lines and used water cannons to protect the homes, the report said.
It was also reported earlier by chinadaily.com.cn Mar 17 that the forest fire had erupted in Yajiang on Mar 15 and also in neighbouring Kangding (Dartsedo) county the following day.
The report said the prefectural meteorological centre had warned of continued high forest fire danger in both Yajiang and Kangding for the next three days. Strong gusts and sudden wind direction changes were of particular concern, as they could complicate fire containment, it added.
No damages to property, infrastructure, or human life have been reported so far. The cause of the blaze was still under investigation.