China announces "red" hazard level due to fires

The state headquarters for the prevention and suppression of forest and steppe fires of the PRC announced a warning of the highest, "red" level due to the danger of forest fires in some areas of Sichuan and Yunnan provinces.

Fires are expected to hit the country between April 3 and 5, when China celebrates Qingming, or Memorial Day. The second highest, "orange" warning was issued in connection with the likelihood of forest fires during the same period of time in parts of Beijing, as well as in Hebei, Liaoning, Fujian, Jiangxi and Guangdong provinces. In order to prevent the occurrence and spread of fires, the authorities are organizing increased control over the situation in the forests. Six working groups composed of representatives from various departments, including the Ministry of Emergency Management of the PRC and the State Administration of Forestry and Steppe Economy of the PRC will be sent to oversee fire prevention work. Note that in China there is a four-level forest fire warning system, in which the highest level of danger is indicated by red, followed by orange, yellow and blue in descending order.