Chinese Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu on Wednesday called for effective measures to quench fires in all forest zones after firemen extinguished one in Nenjiang County of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province Wednesday morning.

More than 15,000 police and firemen were still fighting against fires at Kanduhe Forest Farm in the Greater Hinggan Mountains and in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Hui said more firemen and airplanes are needed to quench all the forest fires, while close attention should be given to the safety of rescuers and local residents

He also urged relevant departments to enhance coordination, mobilize more people for fire fighting and launch artificial rain when conditions are ripe.

Over the past three days, Hui inspected fire fighting at several forest farms, conveyed the directions of Premier Wen Jiabao on fire control and encouraged fire fighters to redouble their efforts for the final victory.

Due to high temperature, dry climate and strong wind, fires have broken out in some forest farms in Heilongjiang Province since Spring.

(Xinhua News Agency June 1, 2006)