On October 22, at a press conference held by China’s Ministry of Emergency Management, Director Yang Xudong of the Risk Monitoring and Integrated Fire Prevention Department highlighted the challenges posed by fire prevention along China’s extensive land border, which stretches over 22,000 kilometers and connects with 14 countries. He underscored that the pressure to prevent and extinguish fires in these border areas is significant, and efforts are underway to enhance the necessary infrastructure.
Recently, China and Mongolia conducted a joint fire prevention exercise focusing on border forest and grassland fires. During the conference, Yang noted that a comprehensive assessment of vegetation, combustible material distribution, and the frequency of fire incidents has identified six key countries of concern regarding border fire risks: Mongolia, Russia, North Korea, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
Yang explained that climate change and socio-economic development have increasingly posed threats from cross-border forest and grassland fires to China’s ecological safety and the well-being of its citizens. Statistics show that there have been 163 recorded cases of forest fires caused by flames crossing from abroad, including 16 that were particularly severe. In addition, there were 37 grassland fires, with six classified as major incidents. Over the past five years, the threat from foreign fires has approached 500 instances, significantly raising the stakes for fire prevention efforts in border regions.
To mitigate these risks, Yang announced that China has developed the “Comprehensive Prevention and Control Plan for Border Forest and Grassland Fires.” This three-year initiative aims to systematically implement international cooperation mechanisms for fire prevention, improve infrastructure, strengthen professional capacities, enhance risk management, and focus on data collection in five critical areas. The goal is to establish a robust fire prevention and control framework in the border regions.
Yang further elaborated on existing collaborations, stating that China has signed joint prevention agreements with countries like Mongolia and Russia, facilitating cooperation through meetings on fire prevention, communication on fire incidents, and collaborative response strategies.
He reiterated the commitment to strengthening fire prevention infrastructure along the borders, with over 7,400 kilometers of firebreaks constructed annually. This initiative plays a crucial role in stopping external fires from breaching the border while preventing domestic fires from spreading outward. Moreover, there will be continued enhancements to monitoring and early warning systems, professional capabilities, and resource equipment, all aimed at steadily improving operational readiness for fire emergencies.