Forest fire controlled in N China

Firefighters have put under control a raging fire which extended on Wednesday from Russia to primitive forest to the north of China's Greater Hinggan Mountains, firefighting headquarters said Friday.

As of 5 p.m. Friday, the blaze was basically controlled and only sporadic flames remained in the firing area's southeastern corner, said the headquarters.

Forest fire in Russia crossed the border Wednesday afternoon and extended to the Yimuhe Forest Farm run by Wuma Forestry Bureau in the north of China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Chinese forestry authorities have mobilized 1,290 firefighters to quench the fire. They are struggling to put out the fire completely on Friday night.

Covering 950,000 hectares, the primitive forest to the north of Greater Hinggan Mountains is China's largest undeveloped wildwood area.