HOHHOT, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Some 1,400 police and firemen are fighting to control a forest fire in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

    The blaze, which broke out Tuesday evening due to lightning strikes, has engulfed 8,300 hectares of camphor pine forest in Ewenki Autonomous Banner of Hulun Buir City, but no injuries have been reported, according to the local forestry bureau.

    The firemen are still trying to stop the fire raging out of control in the eastern part of the forest but the fires in other parts have been tamed.

    More than 1,020 policemen and soldiers are arriving to reinforce the operation, according to the state forest fire prevention headquarters.

    The continuous high temperature hovering around 28 degree Celsius, strong winds and the thick grass in the oil-rich camphor pine forest have made firefighting difficult, the headquarters said.

    Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu has ordered freighters to exert their utmost to eradicate the blaze and reduce human and economic losses to a minimum level.

    He also called for reinforced measures in forest administration and fire prevention in the region.

    The State Forestry Bureau has issued an emergency circular that the northeastern part of China and Inner Mongolia, which are prone to forest blazes during the spring time, have to step up fire prevention efforts. Enditem