One person is dead and four are injured after a forest fire suddenly changed direction during strong winds in Heilongjiang Province.

More than 4,000 residents from up to 35 km away had been evacuated from their homes as authorities struggled to bring the raging inferno under control last night.

More than 6,750 emergency personnel are battling the blaze, which has ravaged 600 sq kms of the Yinanhe Forest Farm since it began on Monday.

Details about the identities of the victims were unavailable last night, but CCTV reported that a sudden change of wind direction led to the tragedy.

Firefighting efforts have been concentrated on the western front of the fire, and emergency personnel are attempting to take preventive action by removing fuel from the fire's southern edge.

The Kurbin River and a reservoir are providing natural protection to the north and east of the fire.

Seven neighboring forest farms and Xunke county were still under threat and CCTV reported that 4,000 people had been evacuated from their homes.

Weather reports said strong southwest winds would continue in the region till May 2.

This means the northeastern areas of Yichun city and southeast of the Yinanhe Farm will remain in danger.

Included in the emergency response are 1,200 forest police, 12 aircraft and 14 special vehicles.

Efforts have been hampered by poor transportation infrastructure in the region. Recent high temperatures and winds have also worked against firefighters. Emergency officials first responded after detecting two thermo heat spots on satellite images on April 27 at about 1:00 pm.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily May 4, 2009)