HOHHOT, May 18 (Xinhua) -- A raging forest fire in northern China was put out on Thursday with no reported casualties, the fire-fighting headquarters said.

    Around 3,300 police and firemen fought the blaze since it erupted on Tuesday due to lightning strikes in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

    The blaze engulfed some 8,300 hectares of camphor pine forest in Ewenki Autonomous Banner of Hulun Buir City.

    It approached a town of 4,200 people Wednesday evening, but reinforced fire-fighting efforts stopped it from threatening the population on Thursday.

    Two planes and 22 rockets were used Thursday morning to make rain and even a slight sleet, which greatly contributed to the eradication of the fire, the headquarters said.

    Evacuation procedures had been prepared in case of any emergencies.

    Strong winds, continuous high temperature, thick grass in the oil-rich camphor pine forest and weak fire-control infrastructure had made fire-fighting difficult, according to officials with local forestry bureau.

    The forest, covering 119,000 hectares of land, is China's largest virgin camphor pine area. As a state-level natural reserve,the forest region also boasts a park featuring picturesque sceneries. Enditem