Thousands Battle Forest Fire in Southwestern China Thousands of fire fighters are battling a blaze in the forest near the famed southwestern Chinese tourist town of Lijiang. State media say investigators were looking into the cause of the fire. While all visible flames had been extinguished by Friday morning, high winds continued to pose a threat of re-igniting sparks and hot spots. The Xinhua News Agency said the blaze broke out Thursday morning and burned about 111 acres (45 hectares) around Lijiang's famous Yulong Snow Mountain. About 3,000 people were fighting the blaze, including paramilitary troops and volunteers. Lijiang, in Yunnan province, is famous for its high mountain scenery and the unique culture of the Naxi people.