Before the fire broke out, Xichang City had no rainfall for 20 consecutive days, and the humidity was only 5% to 10%. Since late March, the temperature has been high for 4 consecutive days, the highest temperature on the 30th reached 31.2 degrees Celsius, and the wind was 7-8 level. After the fire broke out on the 30th, the fire developed along two lines, and the change of wind direction caused the fire to spread violently and accompanied by multiple flying fires, resulting in multiple multi-line rapid burning situations.
The official Weibo of the Fire and Rescue Bureau of the Emergency Management Department informed at 18:00 on March 31 that the fire speed at the Xichang forest fire site had changed due to the increased wind speed and wind direction. The fires at the museums and temples had spread rapidly. The top of the mountain was filled with smoke. The Chengdu Fire Rescue Detachment is strengthening its line of defense, refining the division of labor, and initially locking the combat area.
On the afternoon of March 31, Xichang City held a forest fire press conference and reported that as of 16:00 on the 31st, there were over 1,000 hectares of the fire area and destroyed more than 80 hectares, causing 18 firefighters and a guide to sacrifice.
According to the relevant person in charge, before the fire broke out, Xichang City had no rainfall for 20 consecutive days, and the humidity was only 5% to 10%. Since late March, the temperature has been high for 4 consecutive days, the highest temperature on the 30th reached 31.2 degrees Celsius, and the wind was 7-8 degrees. After the fire broke out on the 30th, the fire developed along two lines, and the change of wind direction caused the fire to spread violently and accompanied by multiple flying fires, resulting in multiple multi-line rapid burning situations.
According to reports, unlike ordinary forest fires, there are many important facilities around the fire site, including a 250-ton petroleum liquefied gas storage and distribution station, two gas stations, four schools, a museum, and a state level. Cultural relics protection unit and the largest department store in Xichang. With the spread of fire, part areas have burned to the roads in Xichang City and are accelerating.
Relevant departments will evacuate the residents near the LPG storage and distribution station as soon as possible. As of the afternoon of the 31st, more than 18,000 people had been evacuated from surrounding towns.
Nandu previously reported that of the 19 people killed in the fire, 18 were Ningnan County forest and grassland professional firefighters who supported the fire, and one was a forest farmworker in Xichang. According to survivors, the team suddenly encountered sudden wind changes in the early morning of the 31st, resulting in casualties.
According to the press conference, the remains of the victims were escorted to the funeral home in Xichang City on the afternoon of the 31st. Relevant units have initiated martyr declaration procedures for 19 sacrificed fire fighting heroes. Another three injured were treated actively in the hospital.
