On the afternoon of February 21, a fire broke out in the Wutai Mountain scenic area in Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province. The fire originated in Yangbaiyu Village, Taihuai Town, approximately 2 kilometers from the core area of Wutai Mountain.
Around 5:00 PM the same day, the open flames were extinguished. There were no casualties.
On the afternoon of February 22, the Wutai Mountain Scenic Area Branch of the Xinzhou City Public Security Bureau issued a police notification:
At approximately 3:26 PM on February 21, 2026, a fire was ignited by a villager from Yangbaiyu Village, Taihuai Town, Wutai Mountain, while conducting tomb-sweeping rituals. After intensive efforts by the scenic area’s professional firefighting team, the open flames were extinguished by 4:50 PM. The affected area was forest land, covering about 5 mu (approximately 0.33 hectares). The fire burned only undergrowth weeds, with no damage to trees, major facilities, or casualties. The individual involved confessed to the illegal act. The public security authorities have imposed administrative detention as a penalty.
Police remind the public: The use of open flames in the wild is strictly prohibited within the scenic area. Smoking, picnicking with fires, burning paper offerings, setting off fireworks, and releasing sky lanterns are forbidden in fire-restricted zones. The public is encouraged to adopt new customs and promote civilized methods of tomb-sweeping, such as using flowers or planting trees. Those who cause fires by violating fire regulations will be severely punished according to the law; those causing significant losses will be held criminally liable.
