HARBIN: Forest fires in the Greater Hinggan Mountains in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province are on the wane, but still burning, as fire fighting efforts continue.

The fire was started when workers at the Hanjiayuan forest farm in Huma County tried to create a firebreak by burning off vegetation.

Unfortunately, winds fanned the flames out of control and towards a nearby village. Although all 140 villagers were evacuated to safety, 37 of their homes did not escape the flames.

"The overall situation is turning better than yesterday," said an official from the Heilongjiang Fire Prevention Management Centre, who asked not to be named.

However, there are still three serious hot spots in the west and southeast of the area.

The exact extent of damage will not be clear until the fire is out, the source said. In a previously released statement, the centre said more than 110,000 hectares of forests were affected.

More than 4,500 firefighters have been tackling the flames, backed up by six helicopters ferrying people to and from remote areas where fire has taken hold. Local meteorological bureaux are also creating artificial rain by seeding clouds around the fire.

Weather reports show that no obvious natural precipitation is expected in the following few days, with winds set to remain strong.

Unusually dry conditions over the last few months put the forests at greater risk of fire, the official said.

Earlier this month, a forest fire, eventually put out on October 17, ravaged Nenjiang County. The fire is also said to have been started by workers attempting to create a firebreak.

Burning off vegetation to create firebreaks is widespread, but the official said the practice is to be temporarily suspended.