With the aid of a timely rainfall, firefighters quenched the fire at an indoor stadium in eastern China's Shandong Province at about 10:10 p.m. on Sunday.

The fire broke out in an indoor stadium at Ji'nan, capital of Shandong Province, at about 5:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

The fire continued to burn for nearly five hours at the stadium which was still under construction, firefighters said.

The roads near the indoor stadium were also under construction and the firefighting equipment was inadequate, which hampered the firefighters' operation. But a rain started at about 9:30 p.m.

It took more than 300 firefighters and 36 fire engines four and a half hours to put out the fire.

No casualties was reported.

The blaze started in the northwestern part of the stadium's roof. Fire spread to one fourth of the roof.

A source of the city authorities said the fire was caused by poor operation procedures when some workers were using cutting machines on the roof. "The operation of electric welding ignited inflammable thermal insulation material."

Firefighters were ordered to stay at the scene to prevent further hazard. A special working team was set up to investigate.

The indoor stadium, in the shape of a lotus, will be the venue for ball games of the 11th National Games to be held there next year.

China's National Games, the most premier sports event of national level, is held every four years. The first one was hosted in Beijing in 1959.

(Xinhua News Agency July 28, 2008)