The forest fire in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province spread to two neighboring forest farms on Tuesday as more than 2,000 people are battling the fire, a local government official said.

The fire in Yinanhe Forest Farm in northern Heilongjiang, with a change in wind direction, has spread to the Yichun Youhao Forest Farm and Shangganling Forest Farm in Yichun City, said Wang Aiwen, vice mayor of Yichun.

Wang said high temperatures and strong winds in the next two days in the region are expected to make the fire fighting more difficult.

He said 270 forest policemen and 1,900 firefighters are rushing to the scene to help.

The fire was reported on Monday and the burnt area and cause of the fire are still unknown.

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2009)