Massive Forest fire spreads in southwest China

[Pastor Dale Morgan]

* Perilous Times and Global Warming

Massive Forest fire spreads in southwest China*

2009-03-12

KUNMING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- About 300 fire fighters were
struggling to contain a massive forest fire that broke out Wednesday
afternoon in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

The fire broke out at around 4 p.m. in Haikou Town in the Xishan
district of Kunming, the provincial capital.

A strong gale and a steep mountainous road near the forest have
hindered fire fighters' efforts, local forestry police said.

The blaze, with flames of four- to- five meters high, has spread to
the nearby Haikou forestry farm, they said.

More than 300 people, including forestry police, government staff
and villagers, have rushed to the scene to put out the fire.