China News Service, Ganzi, March 18th: Title: Direct attack on the forest fire scene in Yajiang, Sichuan: The fire line spread in the wind, and rescue forces fought all night
China News Service reporter Wang Penglu Yang Liu Zhongjun
In the pitch-black night, the red lines of fire on the distant mountains continued to spread, like lava slowly flowing.
On the National Highway 318 at the foot of the mountain, rescue vehicles rushed past, carrying rescuers to the fire scene.
This is what a China News Agency reporter saw near Yajiang County, Garze Prefecture, Sichuan Province on the evening of the 17th.
At about 17:00 on March 15, a forest fire broke out in Baizi Village, Xiala Town, Yajiang County.
At about 15:00 on the 16th, due to the sudden increase in wind power at the fire scene, the fire spread rapidly, forming three fire scenes from south to north.
As of 18:00 on the 17th, a total of 2,326 people had been put into fighting.
According to the Garze Prefecture Forest and Grassland Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting Headquarters, as of 18:00 on the 17th, the No. 1 fire site was located on the southwest side of Yajiang County. There was a continuous fire line of about 3 kilometers on the west line of the fire site, developing toward the northwest; the No. 2 fire site was located on the northeast side of Yajiang County. There are about 20 kilometers of intermittent fire lines visible, developing in the northeast and northwest directions respectively; the No. 3 fire site is located on the northwest side of Yajiang County, and there is no open fire on the east line. There is an intermittent fire line of about 4 to 5 kilometers in the remaining lines, spreading westward. Focus on the direction of fire development.
At about 19:00 on March 17, firefighters were fighting a mountain fire next to National Highway 318 near Yajiang County.
Photo by China News Service reporter Liu Zhongjun
At around 19:00 on the 17th, eight hours after setting off from Chengdu, a China News Service reporter drove along National Highway 318 and arrived near Yajiang County.
There are still more than ten kilometers away from the county seat, and thick smoke can already be seen billowing from the mountains in the distance.
Continuing forward to Sandaoqiao Village, Hekou Town, 6 kilometers away from the county seat, the mountain fire has spread to the high mountains next to the national highway, shrouded in thick smoke, bright lines of fire spreading with the wind, and black soot floating in the air from time to time.
"At around 2:30 this afternoon, the line of fire crossed the nearest hilltop and came to us." A young villager in Sandaoqiao Village told reporters that many villagers have been evacuated. "The wind was stronger yesterday afternoon and slightly lighter this afternoon. .”
The sky quickly darkened. As the reporter continued toward the county seat, he saw red fire lines on the mountains beside the road shining in the night, and tall flames rising from time to time.
Next to a gas station at the foot of the mountain, firefighters from the Garze Prefecture Fire Rescue Detachment are washing the mountain with water jets to moisturize the vegetation and prevent the mountain fire from spreading to the gas station.
Han Yiming, the station manager of the gas station, said that at about 4 p.m. that day, as the wind increased, the wildfire spread to the top of the mountain behind. The gas station quickly launched an emergency plan and covered the most dangerous tank area with multiple layers of fire-fighting foam.
"We didn't sleep last night. We mainly refueled the rescue vehicles, evacuated irrelevant personnel this afternoon, and cut off oil and electricity." He said with red eyes.
At about 19:00 on March 17, firefighters were fighting a mountain fire next to National Highway 318 near Yajiang County.
Photo by China News Service reporter Liu Zhongjun
Data provided by the Garze Prefecture Forest and Grassland Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting Headquarters show that a total of 1,360 households with 5,908 people were relocated in this forest fire, including 435 households with 1,873 people in Hekou Town, 183 households with 1,380 people in Bajiaolou Township, and 742 households with 2,655 people in Sala Town.
The reporter came to the resettlement site at Chengguan No. 1 Complete Primary School in Yajiang County that night. More than 20 blue disaster relief tents had been set up on the open space. Some evacuated people in Sila Town and Bajiaolou Township were covered with quilts and resting in the tents.
"Yesterday afternoon, the wildfire was originally opposite our village, across the Yalong River, but the wind suddenly became stronger, and sparks blew into our village. Mixed with thick smoke, it became dark." Bai Bai, Jiaonibao Village, Jiala Town He Jianyong, a villager in Guzhu, told reporters that most of the local houses are made of wood. "After my house caught fire, my family poured water on it together and reluctantly took the house down."
Liao Jinhua, a villager from the Baigu Group in Jiaonibao Village, Jiala Town, said that after the fire, the villagers hid in a nearby road tunnel on the afternoon of the 17th, and everyone arrived at the resettlement site safely in the evening. “Food and electricity are guaranteed here, and it is very safe. .”
The Sichuan Meteorological Observatory said on the 17th that in the next three days from afternoon to evening, the wind force in Yajiang County can reach level 4 to level 6, with gusts of level 7 to level 9, and the wind direction will be mainly northwest.
It was already late at night, but there was still an endless stream of rescue vehicles speeding on the roads near Yajiang County, and rescue forces were carrying out rescue operations throughout the night.
(over)