The fire occurred in the Hoàng Liên-Văn Bàn Nature Reserve in Lào Cai Province, destroying 8ha of forest. — Photo baolaocai.vn |
LÀO CAI (VNS) — A fire at the Hoàng Liên–Văn Bàn Nature Reserve in the northern province of Lào Cai’s Văn Bàn District took 14 hours to control before being stamped out at 4am today.
The fire started at 2pm yesterday.
It was the biggest fire seen in the province in recent years, Vũ Hồng Điệp, director of the provincial Forest Management Department, said.
The fire started on a mountain, 2,800m above sea level. Another smaller fire had previously occurred there in 2011.
More than 400 people attempted to put out the blaze. The altitude and strong winds made the work very difficult.
Some 8ha of forest land was destroyed.
The 25,000ha nature reserve is home to a diverse variety of flora and fauna. — VNS