The forest fire that broke out in central Taiwan on Sunday morning has been brought under control and will not affect the habitats of a rare species of landlocked salmon, Council of Agriculture (COA) Vice Chairman Chen Wu-hsiung (
According to Chen, the fire was brought under control yesterday morning after 400 workers, soldiers and firefighters from Shei-Pa National Park (雪霸國家公園), Taichung County Government and the Vocational Assistance Commission for Retired Servicemen (退輔會) pitched in to cut down trees and clear out dry areas on Lishan (梨山) near Tungshih (東勢) in order to stop the blaze from spreading.
Chen also said that fears about the fire spreading to the habitats of the Formosan Landlocked Salmon that lives in mountain rivers, have been eased.
PHOTO: LIN SHIH-KUN, TAIPEI TIMES
"The forest fires and the habitats of the much treasured fish are on different sides of a ridge," Chen said yesterday, "so there should be no adverse effect on the habitats."
Previously, Shei-Pa National Park officials had warned that the ecosystem of thousands of the rare fish and other aquatic life could be affected if the fire were to burn down the forest and mud was to be washed down the river.
Meanwhile, Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄), along with Minister of the Interior Chang Po-ya (張博雅), Minister of National Defense Wu Shih-wen (伍世文) and other officials, flew by helicopter to inspect the fire yesterday. Chang later ordered the establishment of a mechanism for airborne firefighting and also for a special force of the defense ministry to help with the firefighting effort.
Government spokesman Su Tzen-ping (
According to Su, there remain only sporadic simmering fires in some areas, adding that the affected forest areas are made up mostly of new seedlings of Taiwan pine, so the extent of the damage should be limited.
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