TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Firefighters are working to extinguish a bushfire burning a hillside in New Taipei’s Ruifang District, the city’s fire department said on Saturday (Aug. 31).
It said the fire broke out near the Bitoujiao Trail just after 9 a.m. and is estimated to have burned an area of 800 square meters, per UDN. Firefighters arrived at the scene at 9.25 a.m. and have since dispatched 42 fire engines, 134 firefighters, and a helicopter to fight the blaze.
The fire department said no injuries have been recorded as a result of the fire, but is advising people in its vicinity to wear masks and eye protection when going outside because of smoke in the air, per LTN It has evacuated people from some areas, and has advised all others to stay away from the trail and its surrounds.
The helicopter was dispatched to drop water on the fire at 1.20 p.m. as it was burning in many places firefighters could not reach, the fire department said. The helicopter is flying to and from the fire out of a baseball stadium in nearby Keelung where it is being refilled with water.
Firefighters have not said what caused the fire.