China News Network, Xichang, March 31, title: Directly hit Xichuan forest fire scene in Sichuan: 19 people died at the ash in the forest
Author Wang Peng Tang Yan Chen Xuanbin
After fighting throughout the night, the fire on the western line of the Sheshan Forest Fire in Xichang City, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, has been extinguished, and there are still a few smoke spots on the scene. Several fire-fighting helicopters are dragging large containers between the smoke point and the lake at the foot of the mountain, carrying water to catch fire, and ashes fall from time to time in the sky. This is what the reporter saw when he arrived at the scene of the forest fire in Xichang at 8:00 on the 31st.
Helicopters carry water to catch fire. Photo by Liu Zhongjun
At 15:51 on March 30, the forest fire prevention headquarters of Xichang received a telephone call to alert the forest fire in the direction of Ma'anshan. Local mobilization of professional fire teams from Ningnan, Dechang and other counties to support nearby, and organized various rescue forces of 2044 people to carry out rescue. As of 00:00 on the 31st, the fire area was about 1,000 hectares, and the damage area was estimated to be about 80 hectares. The fire killed 19 people, including 18 members of the Ningnan County Lightning Team in Liangshan Prefecture, and a local guide.
Laoshan where the forest fire occurred is located in the southwest of Xichang City, and Laohai at the foot of the mountain forms the famous local Laohai Laoshan scenic area. Due to the strong wind, the forest fire on the west side of Laoshan spread quickly, directly threatening some buildings below the mountain. More than 1,200 local people were immediately evacuated.
The picture shows the fire line at the forest fire scene. Photo by Liu Zhongjun
"The flames rushed high when the wind was strong, and the sky was very scary. The smoke covered the sun." Yue Feng, who lives at the foot of the mountain, recalled that at 16 o'clock on the 30th, the flames crossed the ridge under the effect of wind for more than an hour. It spread to the east side of Luanshan. "The fire was still burning until I left at 11 pm."
The reporter learned that the fire poses a serious threat to a number of construction facilities at the foot of Mount Laoshan, including a petroleum liquefied gas storage and distribution station, two gas stations, four schools, and the largest local department store in Xichang.
Liquefied gas station for temporary relief. Photo by Liu Zhongjun
"Madaochangkou Liquefied Gas Station has a storage capacity of 800 cubic meters, and the fire line was less than 100 meters away from the gas storage tank at the nearest time. Once the explosion occurs, the consequences of the explosion are unthinkable," said Wen Zonghua, deputy detachment leader of the Sichuan Panzhihua Fire Rescue Division involved in the site disposal.
Wen Zonghua told reporters that 32 people of the detachment arrived at the liquefied gas station at about 12 o'clock in the evening, and put them into emergency treatment with 50 members of the Liangshan Prefecture Forest Fire Detachment. "One set of water pumps in the gas station yard, ready to respond to the fire situation; another The group carried equipment such as chainsaws and machetes, and opened isolation zones in the forest area around the gas station. "
When the reporter arrived at the liquefied gas station at about 9 o'clock, he saw that six large gas storage tanks were spraying water to cool down. A few meters outside the fence, a large number of trees were cut down, and the burnt dead wood was faintly seen higher up.
Also seriously threatened by the fire is Liangshan Agricultural School. The reporter saw behind the school at 10:00 that the line of fire was only a few meters away from the school building. In the burnt woods, the ground's ashes did not pass over the insteps, and many trunks were charred.
A firefighter walked through the burning woods. Photo by Liu Zhongjun
"At the time when the fire came, this scene was a scene of fiery flames. Mars was splashing everywhere, and some of it fell on the roof of the boarding room of the student dormitory, and the situation was very critical." Changan Road, Sichuan Liangshan Fire Rescue Division, which dealt with the fire at the school. Fire station political instructor Yang Qian told reporters that the local mountain forests are mainly pine and eucalyptus, and the oil produced after burning will exacerbate the fire.
At 10 o'clock on the same day, Liangshan official released news that, at 1:30 am on the 31st, 21 professional fire teams organized by Ningnan County were led by a local guide and went to a designated location on the back of Laoshan for the assembly site. Link. At 7 o'clock, 19 victims were found, of which 18 were members of the squadron and one was a local guide. Another three members of the squadron were sent to the hospital for treatment, and the vital signs are stable at present.
"They should have experienced a sudden change in wind direction when going up the mountain, and it was too late to avoid danger." A firefighter involved in the mountain fire rescue said that there are still many rescue workers on the mountain to extinguish the remaining fire. Condition) is likely to be serious again. "(End)