Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-10-14

Firefighters on the outlying island on Kinmen say they have begun to bring a wildfire

Firefighters on the outlying island on Kinmen say they have begun to bring a wildfire that broke out Friday night under control. (CNA)

that broke out Friday night under control.

The island of Kinmen sits opposite the Taiwan Strait from Taiwan itself. The area has seen little rain over the past several months. On Saturday, Yang Shu-kai, director-general of the Kinmen County Fire Bureau, said that the fire was the result of this dry weather combined with high winds and fallen brush leftover from a typhoon last year.

The fire burned around 125,000 square meters, but was contained by firefighters and brought under control with the help of around 30 soldiers. As of Saturday, the fire continued to smolder. High winds have forced the National Airborne Service Corps to cancel a plan to help control the blaze with helicopters. Firefighters remain on alert and are using excavators to create breaks in order to keep the fire from spreading to nearby villages.    [FULL  STORY]