BEIJING, July 25 (Xinhuanet) -- More than 5,340 forest fires happened in the second quarter of this year, leaving 41 people killed, 15 injured and more than 24,160 hectares of forest affected.

    The number of fires and casualties were both reported a slight rise over the average level at the same period of past three years, sounding the alarm bell for the forest fire prevention and control across the country, said Cao Qingyao, spokesman of the theState Forestry Administration (SFA) Monday.

    Cao Said the SFA has sent work teams to the fire-prone areas, such as the northeastern and southwestern parts, to supervise the fire-prevention work. More than 3,500 fire cases had been dealt with and 639 were given penal punishment.

    All the forestry departments were required to strengthen management on the fire sources in the wild in the third quarter, aseason that is prone to lightning-triggered forest fire, said Cao.Enditem