Thousands mobilized to contain forest fires in NE China

HARBIN, May 24 -- Nearly 7,000 people have been called up to put out forest fires that broke out at five different areas Sunday in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

The blaze in Heli was detected through satellite monitoring at 11:17 a.m. Sunday, the forest fire control headquarters of the Heilongjiang provincial government said.

Four other fires, including two in the Dahinggan Mountains area, were later detected.

No casualties have been reported. The causes of the fires are unclear.