China News Service, Hulunbuir, September 26. Title: "Island in the forest" is not alone: During the Mid-Autumn Festival, they stay at 53 degrees north latitude
China News Service reporter Zhang Linhu
Mid-Autumn Festival, 53 degrees north latitude, on the banks of the Ergun River, deep in the primeval forests of the Greater Khingan Mountains, in the camp of the Qigan Squadron, all members are on duty.
It is surrounded by mountains on three sides and water on one side. To get to the nearest town, it takes more than 150 kilometers of mountain roads and more than 200 turns. 950,000 hectares of virgin forest has entered the critical period for autumn prevention, and all members of the squadron are on duty.
The picture shows firefighters patrolling the fire line. Photographed by He Shiqiao
Protect against the forest sea in autumn and build a green Great Wall together
In the hinterland of the primeval forest of the Daxinganling Mountains, on top of the "cockscomb" of China's territory, there is a place called Qigan. Since 1963, the Qiqian Squadron has been stationed here. Successive forest firefighting commanders have stayed here for more than half a century with their passionate youth. They have put out more than 380 forest fires and are praised as the "Guardians of the Primitive Forest Area".
At 6:20, when it was still dark, acting squad leader Tian Tian blew the wake-up call. The team members put on fire-proof clothing, had breakfast, and started patrolling for the day.
The fire road is bumpy and bumpy, and the mountain wind blows fallen leaves on your face. Deputy squadron leader Liu Dongsheng used a telescope to scan every ridge. The drones and satellite portable stations on his back were on standby at any time. Once smoke spots were discovered, they would be dealt with as soon as possible.
"Lightning fires occur frequently in autumn, and there is a thick layer of dead branches and leaves under the forest. A single spark can start a prairie fire. In Qigan, the fire situation is the order, and the fire prevention period is the war preparation period." Liu Dongsheng said that the fire prevention area per capita of the squadron is more than 16,000 hectares, and they are ready for 24-hour war. When sleeping at night, the walkie-talkie is pressed under the pillow.
"I will never forget the summer of 2023, which was also the first time I went to a fire to face a fierce battle with fire demons." said Wang Liming, a fourth-level firefighter.
It was August 6, 2023, when 15 lightning forest fires broke out in Ahlong Mountain, Mangui and other places, with the fire area reaching more than 600 hectares in a short period of time. The pine forest is dense and oily, and the fire head is burning in a three-dimensional manner. In the thick smoke, squadron leader Wang Qiang led his team members to attack the fire head and compete with the fire demon for the last 300 meters of defense line.
When the fire went out, everyone collapsed on the scorched earth. Wang Qiang said in a hoarse voice: "By guarding these 300 meters, you will guard the lights of thousands of families behind you." Wang Liming said that he still remembers this sentence to this day.
The picture shows firefighters eating moon cakes while patrolling the fire line. Photographed by He Shiqiao
The moon is full and strangely dry, and we keep the lights of thousands of families together
When the patrol returned, the sunset happened to be over my shoulders. Before dinner, Wang Qiang brought out two large boxes of mooncakes, five-nut ones, lotus seed paste ones, egg yolk ones... These mooncakes were quietly brought up from the town by a supply truck last week.
"These kids stay in the woods all year round and can't go back during the holidays. As the captain, I have to think about them," Wang Qiang said.
The canteen was filled with specialty dishes from all over the world. Radio station director Wen Zhe brought out the shredded rabbit, a specialty of his hometown. Director Lu Minglei cut the mooncakes into small pieces and distributed them to everyone. Everyone held up their bowls and clinked glasses with their parents, wives and children in the distance through their mobile phone screens. The old people repeatedly told them to "eat more and pay attention to safety." The team members nodded over and over again and raised their mobile phones higher so that they could see the full moon behind them.
Wang Zhen, an old firefighter, recalled the past of Lin Hai, talking about the fire that year and the days when the mountains were blocked by heavy snow. His laughter echoed with the sound of pines and waves. I don't know who started, and everyone sang "Home in Qigan" together. The song floated across the Ergun River to the brightly lit hometown in the distance.
"Suddenly I realized that what we are guarding here is not only guarding a forest, but also thousands of homes with lights on." New firefighter Qi Fuping said.
The picture shows acting squad leader Hu Shou serving food to his teammates. Photographed by He Shiqiao
Dentsu Border Village, always passing on a line of loyalty
After dinner, the phones in the barracks started ringing. The tough man who ran all over the mountains during the day, his voice softened as soon as he picked up the phone. Firefighter Level 2 Muren sat at his desk and turned the flashlight to the brightest, preparing to write a letter to his wife.
Once upon a time, Qigan had no access to electricity, mail, or the Internet. It was more than 150 kilometers away from the nearest town and was known as an "isolated island in the forest."
Muren recalled that in the past few years, the squadron relied on solar panels and generators for power. On rainy days or when the mountains were blocked by heavy snow, they could only light candles at night. During video calls, his wife always wondered why the background was dark. Nowadays, the State Grid's lines are laid across the mountains and ridges to Qigan Township, and the camp area will soon be connected.
Inner Mongolia has a long border, scattered villages, and inconvenient water, electricity, roads, and communications, which used to be a major bottleneck restricting the development of border areas. In recent years, Inner Mongolia has continued to make up for the shortcomings in people's livelihood, not only making life more convenient for people in remote areas, but also activating new momentum for rural development.
On June 28 this year, the 40-kilometer-long 10-kilovolt line successfully transmitted electricity, marking the realization of full grid power coverage in all administrative townships in Inner Mongolia. Qigan Township completely bid farewell to the history of "depending on the weather and using electricity."
"There have been great changes this year, but the only thing that remains unchanged is the spirit of loyalty, perseverance, entrepreneurship and optimism passed down by generations of fire fighters." Wang Qiang said.
