Because the spring cultivation and collection of forestry byproducts have began, in May, the usage of fire in producing and living become frequent. So the management of fire sources becomes more difficult. Recently, Heilongiang Province held a video conference and arranged the 2nd stage of the spring fire prevention. The conference stresses that because of the continuous drought, from May to June, the fire danger rating in Heilongjiang will be higher than the normal years. So a lasting fire prevention period from spring to autumn may probably occur.

    The conference requires that all areas of Heilongjiang should be consciously aware of the severe situation, pay high attention on the latent fire hazard, and set up firm faith.

    Since last summer, Heilongjiang has continually suffered drought and high temperature for 4 seasons. Up to this April, the average precipitation there was 30 percent less than the normal years. And this is also the minimum in the record. Although in April most areas in Heilongjiang had rainfall, the precipitation was less than enough, and distributed uneven. So the lasting drought was not relieved. In such a climatic condition, the severe or especially severe forest fire may probably hit. The forest fire prevention situation is still very serious.

In view of such an unfavorable climate condition, Heilongjiang Provincial Meteorological Bureau organized a conference on forest and grassland fire prevention forecast. The Provincial Climate Center gave accurate forecast and stressed that this year the forest fire prevention situation would surpass 1987 and 2003, which were regarded as the 2 severest years. This situation has been taken seriously by the provincial government. Vice Governor Huang Jiansheng, emphasized that they should make good preparations of fighting conflagration. （May 8）

By Ren Guilin and Song Lihua

Editor Kong Yan