Beijing will strengthen forest fire prevention by building more monitoring
facilities to ensure a safe environment for the Olympic Games next year.
The city plans to set up nine monitoring sites equipped with video
surveillance technologies, 88 watchtowers and five meteorological stations in
2008 to provide information and immediate reports of forest fire risks.
The scheme has been approved by the State Forestry Administration and
construction will start soon.
Beijing is expected to experience high temperatures and less precipitation
this winter and next spring, which could increase fire risks.
At present, 94 firefighting teams, 123 watchtowers and 43 video monitoring
facilities are working to ensure the safety of more than 500,000 square
kilometers of forest in Beijing.
Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice Premier Hui Liangyu have ordered improvements in
forest fire prevention methods and fire fighting capabilities.
