Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu on Monday urged local authorities to improve forest fire prevention after a series of mountain fires in southern China.

Drought-stricken southern China has seen frequent forest fires recently amid arid weather and inadequate rainfall, Hui said, urging local governments to enhance efforts to prevent serious fire incidents.

State fire-fighting headquarters has sent working groups to fire-prone areas to supervise prevention work and urged local authorities to set up contingency plans.

Hui said more public awareness of forest fire prevention was needed in order to improve the early warning system.

A forest fire broke out in central Hunan Province on Feb. 3, killing seven people.

(Xinhua News Agency February 6, 2007)