Forest fire put out in north China

Firefighters examine an extinguished fire spot to prevent the forest fire from reignition in the Greater Hinggan Mountains, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province. [Xinhua]

HUZHONG, Heilongjiang - A forest fire was mostly put out Saturday after ravaging the Greater Hinggan Mountains in north China's Inner Mongolian Autonomous region and Heilongjiang province for a week, fire fighters said.

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Fire fighters have won a decisive battle against the fire, said Jia Zhibang, head of China's National Forest Fire Prevention Headquarters.

All the the 26 fire spots are mostly put out, said a statement from the fire fighting headquarters at Huzhong in the Greater Hinggan Mountains.

More than 20,000 fire fighters joined in the operation. No casualties were reported.

Rains are forecast from Saturday to Monday, which is beneficial in preventing the fire from spreading again, the statement said.

The fire was first spotted on June 26 in a part of the Greater Hinggan Mountains in Inner Mongolia and then extended to neighboring Heilongjiang.